India: bird flu in poultry suspected / confirmed

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: India: bird flu in poultry suspected / confirmed

120,000 birds culled in Manipur

30 Jul, 2007,

IMPHAL: More than 120,000 poultry have been culled in Manipur during the last five days with authorities ruling out a fresh outbreak of the deadly avian influenza in the state, officials said on Monday.

"The operations have been quite successful with people now voluntarily bringing their birds for culling after being aware of the threat it could pose to humans. There are no fresh reports of the bird flu virus spreading in other parts of the state," said K. Gopal, nodal officer of the Animal Disease Control Programme in Manipur.

The culling of an estimated 160,000 birds has been carried out since Thursday in a five km radius from the farm at Chenngmeirong near the state capital Imphal from where the deaths were reported. There are an estimated 800 poultry farms in the area.

"Now we have found out that the number of poultry would be higher than what we estimated as scores of more people are coming with their birds on their own for culling," Gopal told media.

About 34 Rapid Response Teams with five members in each group led by a veterinarian are involved in the culling with laboratory tests earlier confirming the dead birds had H5NI strains, which are highly infectious in nature.

Several experts and veterinary department officials from other northeastern states have arrived in Manipur to assist in the culling operations.

"The officials from the other states are here to help us and also gather first hand knowledge on the enormity of the virus," said Th Dorendra Singh, Manipur's veterinary director.

Health officials said there were no immediate reports of humans contracting the virus although a massive surveillance campaign was on to ensure the safety of locals.

"No human infection has been reported so far and we are stepping up surveillance and healtah checkups," Manipur Health Secretary P Vaiphei said.

More than 25,000 people living within the five km affected zone have undergone health checkups so far. Some with fever and other respiratory infections have had their blood tested.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/120000_birds_culled_in_Manipur/articleshow/2244006.cms

[Treyfish]

Re: India: bird flu in poultry suspected / confirmed

Bird flu: Ministry takes steps to prepare states





By IE
Tuesday July 31, 02:26 AM
The Union Health Ministry has sent members of rapid response teams in all states in the Northeast to Imphal, where culling has started, to gain hands-on experience in tackling bird flu. The Ministry also proposes to start mock drills in West Bengal soon to help officials know more about the flu.
"Till now, they only have theoretical knowledge on the subject. We want them to go and get their hands on the actual problem. With this they will get to know what and how are things to be tackled in such situations. Though we have not come across any human cases yet, we face risk from the neighbouring countries like Myanmar," said a senior official in the Health Ministry. "By mock drills we will create a situation, a poultry farmland will be taken to give an overview of the situation. This will help us fight the scare in the minds of the people and will also give them the idea to react during the hour of need," he said. Meanwhile, even as the culling continues, human samples within the infection zone of 3 km have tested negative. "We have surveyed 45,000 households, which means about 1,60,000 people and have not come across any suspected case. The ventilators and all other medical equipment required during emergency have been put in place," said an official at the NICD.

http://news.avian-influenza.info/linkout/o.php?out=http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/search/bird+flu/SIG=11hdg4pbn/*http%3A//in.news.yahoo.com/070730/48/6itkv.html

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: India: bird flu in poultry suspected / confirmed

2nd outbreak reported

Culling tally reaches 1,37,944; mass fowl deaths reported at Khurai farm

The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Jul 30: Even as culling of birds continued for a fifth day today in the greater Imphal area, another case of mass sickness and deaths of chickens has been reported at a farm at Khurai.

According to sources in the veterinary department, the unusual sickness and deaths of the birds, with what are described as bird flu symptoms, had taken place a few days back, but went unreported at the time, although the farm had been covered in the culling operations. Some of the sick birds had in fact been culled unknowingly.

The sources said after the farm owners finally reported the matter, veterinary teams have collected faecal samples of the dead birds and have sent the same for verification.

In the meantime, culling operations continued apace today, with a total of 11,350 birds culled in 34 localities in both Imphal East and Imphal West district today.

Since the start of culling operations on July 26, a total of 1,37,944 birds including chickens, ducks and other domesticated birds have been culled, while 20249 eggs and 11615 kgs of poultry feeds have been disposed off safely till today, veterinary department sources said.

Altogether 16 ducks imported from Vietnam reared at the Imphal Raj Bhavan today were also culled by a veterinary RRT today. The state governor`s residence falls within the culling zone.

Veterinary officials also said that the culling operations within the core 5 km radius zone was planned to be completed by today, but due to the bird population turning out to be well in excess of the official estimates, the operations will be continuing for the time being.

With various local NGOs and local organisations cooperating actively to the bird culling drive, the department has also constituted mobile teams to collect and dispose of birds, including broilers, local hens and ducks which were kept for culling after collecting from the individual households. Above 2,000 birds mainly adult broilers and ducks have been culled in this manner, the sources disclosed.

More than 900 birds which have been seized by public and police in the last three days at various places after being smuggled out from the core zone have also been culled.

It is meanwhile reported that some 40 chickens culled by an RRT at Kongpal Mutum Leikai were stolen by unidentified persons while being kept in a gunny sack for disposal this afternoon.

In another development, some 250 poultry farmers who have been hardest hit due to the steps taken up for containment of bird flu have banded together in an association called the Manipur Poultry Farmers and Traders` Association to protect their interests.

Since most of the poultry farmers have set up their farms with the help of bank loans, one of the issues of major concern to them is how the current situation will affect their loan status, a representative of the association said.

In the meantime, some chicken centres in the Imphal area have converted themselves to fish centres, even as the price of fish has been rising steadily over the past few days.

http://www.kanglaonline.com/index.php?template=headline&newsid=38799&typeid=1&Idoc_Session=827c9dd1ba985f97a83358cd78ebaded

[Treyfish]

Re: India: bird flu in poultry suspected / confirmed

http://www.mizzima.com/MizzimaNews/N...July-2007.html<table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="780"><tbody><tr><td align="left" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100&#37;"><tbody><tr><td></td></tr></tbody></table><!-- InstanceEndEditable --></td><td colspan="2" align="right" valign="center"><script>function DDtoDay(inputDate){ var dateString = new Array('','st','nd','rd','th','th','th','th','th',' th','th','th','th','th','th','th','th','th','th',' th','th','st','nd','rd','th','th','th','th','th',' th','th','st'); returnDate = ''; tempDate = parseInt(inputDate); if (tempDate >= 1 && tempDate <= 31) { returnDate = inputDate + dateString[tempDate]; } return returnDate;}/*Current date script credit: JavaScript Kit (www.javascriptkit.com)Over 200+ free scripts here!*/var mydate=new Date()var year=mydate.getYear() if (year < 1000)year+=1900var day=mydate.getDay()var month=mydate.getMonth()var daym=mydate.getDate() if (daym<10)daym="0"+daymvar dayarray=new Array("Sunday","Monday","Tuesday","Wednesday","Thu rsday","Friday","Saturday")var montharray=new Array("January","February","March","April","May"," June","July","August","September","October","Novem ber","December")document.write(""+dayarray[day]+", "+montharray[month]+" "+daym+", "+year+"") </script>Tuesday, July 31, 2007</td></tr><tr><td align="left" height="1470" valign="top" width="522"><!-- InstanceBeginEditable name="main" --><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>

Manipur bird flu suspected to have come from Burma

Subhaschandra M
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
July 31, 2007 - July 31- Fingers are being pointed at Burma for the outbreak of bird flu to have crossed the border to the Indian state of Manipur.

Indian officials and traders suspect that the bird flu virus has come from Burma last week.

The fresh outbreak of the epidemic in southern Burma might be connected with the outbreak in Manipur for 'free-chicken trade' prevails along this sector of the Indo-Burma international border.

Manipur's situation is getting worst by the day. Indian officials here are yet to find the source of the outbreak though the deadly H5N1 virus struck the Chingmeirong Ira Poultry farm in Manipur's Imphal east district on July 25 killing 132 chickens reared by Sagolsem Irananda, a poultry farmer.

Dr Th. Dorendra, Director, Veterinary and Animal Husbandry department who is supervising culling at least 1.5 lakh birds in a five kilometer radius in Imphal, suspects that the virus came from Burma. He told reporters here that the bird flu most likely came through the porous Indo-Burma border.

But the first bird flu affected family of the region rejected the allegation that they might have imported chickens from Burma when the country was hit by avian influenza in March.

Traders also believe that the virus might have come across the border as hundreds of chickens along with eggs were brought in from Burma 'routinely' to Manipur every month.

"Despite the ban, many traders smuggle hundred of chickens and 40 to 50 cartons of eggs in every day. Even before the outbreak in June, chickens from Burma used to arrive here because the rates are comparatively cheaper," a poultry trader told Mizzima.

The turnover of Manipur's poultry sector is more than Rs. 30 million. It employs more than 4,000 people as India is the world's fourth-largest producer of eggs and fifth in chicken broilers. It produced 43 billion eggs and 1.7 billion broilers in 2005, according to industry estimates.

Meanwhile the report of fresh outbreak of bird flu in two poultry farms in Thanbyuzayat, Mon State, southeastern Burma forced tightening of the Indian border trade points, according to agency sources.

The report said that authorities have adopted measures to check the outbreak, culling more than 300 chickens in two poultry farms where the H5N1 virus was identified.

This fresh outbreak comes a month after a case occurred in a privately owned chicken farm in Pegu Division, 80 kilometres north ofRangoon in June. Earlier outbreaks in Burma were identified in February and April.

Manipur's bird flu control wing took immediate precautionary measures to monitor movement of the livestock through the State's important transit points at its borders including Moreh town, Mao hill station and Jiribam town.

Since the outbreak of bird flu in Manipur on July 25, Chingmeirong, a typical locality in Imphal east district of Manipur is now in the news. "We're ruined, all chicks are gone" said Irananda whose family is dependent on the poultry farm which has no insurance cover.

The State Veterinary Department culled 1.3 lakh chickens, including 5,000 ducks in the last five years. Amidst this Manipur health Minister Ph Parijat announced that there are no cases of bird flu among humans in the state so far, and the situation is well under control. Medical teams have checked altogether 2,35,161 residents in the areas within a five-kiolmetre radius of Chingmeirong, and so far not one case of infection in human beings has been reported.
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[HenryN]

Re: India: bird flu in poultry suspected / confirmed

Government of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place style="BACKGROUND-POSITION: left bottom; BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(res://ietag.dll/#34/#1001); BACKGROUND-REPEAT: repeat-x" tabIndex=0 w:st="on"><st1:country-region style="BACKGROUND-POSITION: left bottom; BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(res://ietag.dll/#34/#1001); BACKGROUND-REPEAT: repeat-x" tabIndex=0 w:st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place> <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Situational Report on Avian Influenza in <st1:place style="BACKGROUND-POSITION: left bottom; BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(res://ietag.dll/#34/#1001); BACKGROUND-REPEAT: repeat-x" tabIndex=0 w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName style="BACKGROUND-POSITION: left bottom; BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(res://ietag.dll/#34/#1001); BACKGROUND-REPEAT: repeat-x" tabIndex=0 w:st="on">Chingmeirong</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType style="BACKGROUND-POSITION: left bottom; BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(res://ietag.dll/#34/#1001); BACKGROUND-REPEAT: repeat-x" tabIndex=0 w:st="on">Village</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> in East Imphal District of Manipur<o:p></o:p>

(As on 29.7.2007)<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Deptt of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries notified an outbreak of Avian influenza in <st1:place style="BACKGROUND-POSITION: left bottom; BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(res://ietag.dll/#34/#1001); BACKGROUND-REPEAT: repeat-x" tabIndex=0 w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName style="BACKGROUND-POSITION: left bottom; BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(res://ietag.dll/#34/#1001); BACKGROUND-REPEAT: repeat-x" tabIndex=0 w:st="on">Chingmeirong</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType style="BACKGROUND-POSITION: left bottom; BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(res://ietag.dll/#34/#1001); BACKGROUND-REPEAT: repeat-x" tabIndex=0 w:st="on">Village</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> in East Imphal District of Manipur on 25.7.2007. <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
The Central Rapid Response Team of Ministry of Health and F.W. deputed to Imphal is in the field. The additional team of cullers underwent medical screening. As of now, 196 cullers are under the cover of Tamiflu. Their health status is being monitored.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
The medical teams consisting of 680 health personnel in total have conducted house to house active surveillance on <st1:date style="BACKGROUND-POSITION: left bottom; BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(res://ietag.dll/#34/#1001); BACKGROUND-REPEAT: repeat-x" tabIndex=0 w:st="on" Month="7" Day="27" Year="2007">27<SUP>th</SUP> July, 2007</st1:date>. They covered 45,032 houses in the Imphal Municipalility area (ward no.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 21, 22, 25, 26) Luwangsangbam, Koirengei, Lamlongei, Ahalup, Matai, Kontha area, Achanbigei, Heingang, Laipham Siphai, Paomei Colony, Sangakpam, Khurai area and Kairang area.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
Out of the 45,032 houses surveyed, 935 were having backyard poultry. A total of 2,35,161 persons were covered. 287 Fever/ Acute upper respiratory Tract infection cases were found and no persons had handled either dead or sick bird. These cases are being monitored. <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
The isolation ward in <st1:place style="BACKGROUND-POSITION: left bottom; BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(res://ietag.dll/#34/#1001); BACKGROUND-REPEAT: repeat-x" tabIndex=0 w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName style="BACKGROUND-POSITION: left bottom; BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(res://ietag.dll/#34/#1001); BACKGROUND-REPEAT: repeat-x" tabIndex=0 w:st="on">J.N.</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType style="BACKGROUND-POSITION: left bottom; BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(res://ietag.dll/#34/#1001); BACKGROUND-REPEAT: repeat-x" tabIndex=0 w:st="on">Hospital</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>, Imphal is ready to receive patients. Two ventilators have been installed to provide critical care. This is in addition to the critical care facilities available at Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal. <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
Adequate supply of logistics [Tamiflu, N-95 masks and personal protective gears] have been made available to the State Government. <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
The situation is being closely monitored. As of now, there is no suspected human cases of Avian Influenza.

http://mohfw.nic.in/status%20report%...uly%202007.htm<o:p></o:p>

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: India: bird flu in poultry suspected / confirmed

Suspected outbreak in an other state in India

300 chicken die in Tripura, general alert in State

Agartala, Aug. 3 (PTI): Following the death of about 300 chicken in a Tripura poultry, the State Government has sounded a general alert and sent blood samples of chicken to a laboratory in Madhya Pradesh to confirm whether they were victims of birdflu, officials said here Thursday.

At least 300 chicken died at Divyadoy Krishi farm at Khowai sub-division of West Tripura district in the last two days though initial tests conducted by animal scientists did not find any germ of birdflu, they said.

Samarendra Das, Assistant Director of State Animal Resource Department, said the possibility of infection of birdflu was remote because the chicken and eggs were brought in the State from West Bengal and not from any State from the North-East.

Meanwhile, the state has sounded a general alert regarding birdflu and also trained some people to tackle the disease if situation arises.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200708030360.htm

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: India: bird flu in poultry suspected / confirmed

New cases of ?unusual mortality?

NEW DELHI: Even as 3.31 lakh poultry birds were culled in bird flu-affected Manipur till Friday, two new cases of ?unusual mortality? in poultry farms in Tripura and in Mizoram have set off alarm bells. Samples have been sent to the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory in Bhopal to test for the highly pathogenic H5N1.

According to Union Animal Husbandry Joint-Secretary Upma Chawdhry, clinical tests point to normal poultry diseases in Tripura and Mizoram and there was no cause for alarm. The death of 40 birds in Aurangabad also was a ?false alarm.? Maharashtra, in any case, is under strict surveillance following an outbreak of bird flu in Jalgaon last year.

Ms. Chawdhry said a flock of 500 poultry birds in a commercial farm of 3,000 died in Khoweii village in West Tripura from IBD (Infectious Bursal Disease) and Cossiodosis.

In another backyard poultry farm in Vambuck village in Mizoram, about eight km from Myanmar, a flock of 120 poultry birds have died, ostensibly from fowl-pox disease. Ms. Chawdhry said restrictions had been imposed in both the villages in the two States.

The Centre has advised the State to ensure ?safe disposal and burial? of the dead poultry. ?There should be no consumption of poultry in these areas and there should be restriction on movement of poultry.? In Manipur, the culling operation was completed on Friday with the stamping out of 3,31,606 birds and the destruction of 28,103 eggs and 25,242 kg. of feed. A compensation of Rs. 70 lakh had been paid to the affected farmers till Thursday. The compensation is expected to cross Rs. one crore.

Sources said the compensation was not to make up for the commercial cost of the culled birds but to save farmers from deprivation. For three months the farmers cannot rear poultry in the region.

Officially the culling process is over but as the Central Rapid Response Teams go about mopping up and cleaning the area, they might come across unreported poultry, sources said.

The Department said 16 Rapid Response Teams, assisted by 58 labourers and malaria workers of the Health Department were engaged in the task of cleaning and disinfection.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/04/stories/2007080462160100.htm