Confirmed Outbreak of Bird Flu at Kalabazaar & Changgedhaphu, Thimphu- 140 persons on preventative oseltamivir

[tetano]

From five households in the labour camp at Kalabazaar, thirty eight birds out of forty nine have died as of today, 13th January 2012. Another eleven birds from these households are sick. An emergency meeting of the National Incident Command Centre (NICC) for bird flu was held at 3.00 pm today, 13th January 2012. The meeting was held after deaths of the birds at Kalabazaar to the North of Thimphu city were reported to Livestock officials on 12th January 2012. The samples from these birds using PCR at the National Centre for Animal Health tested positive for H5N1.

The NICC meeting attended by representatives from the Police, Thimphu City Corporation, Health and staff from Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority (BAFRA) and the Department of Livestock (DoL), Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, have enforced the following immediately:

Activation of the Incident Operation Centre (IOC) at the National Animal Hospital, Chubachu, Thimphu.
The team along with members from Police, Health, City Officials, BAFRA and DoL have begun visiting the Kalabazaar area to assess the situation, inform the public and start digging pits.
The 3D (Depopulation, Disposal and Decontamination) operation shall start by 6:30 pm today (13.01.2012).
Disinfection will start tomorrow (14.01.2012) at the junction of Kuenselphodrang and Kalabazaar.
Formation of risk assessment and surveillance team.
Media reporting for public awareness.

http://www.moaf.gov.bt/moaf/?p=6419

[Shiloh]

Re: Confirmed Outbreak of Bird Flu at Kalabazaar, Thimphu- Poultry and Poultry Products Import Ban Reimposed

Source: http://www.kuenselonline.com/2011/?p=25054

Jan 14, 2012
Bird flu hits Thimphu
and the ban re-imposed after an outbreak in Orissa, India

Changedaphu (Kalabazar) A bird flu outbreak in Thimphu was confirmed yesterday afternoon after the deaths of 38 chickens in the past week at the camp in Changedaphu (Kalabazar).

Another 11 were found sick. These birds are from five houses that had 49 birds in all. The National Centre for Animal Health in Serbithang confirmed the outbreak.

By last evening, a team of officials from the Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority (BAFRA), the livestock department, health, police and city officials had dug a two-feet deep pit to dispose the culled birds.

An emergency meeting of the National Incident Command Centre (NICC) for bird flu was held yesterday following the deaths.

The culling began last night after the team reached Thimphu from Tshimasham. ?Since the place is within the city it could pose a high risk for human health although this is the first case in the city,? officials said.

Livestock officials said the birds had started dying since January 8, but were informed by the residents only on January 12, after the death of two birds, which tested positive for bird flu...

[sharon sanders]

Re: Confirmed Outbreak of Bird Flu at Kalabazaar, Thimphu- Poultry and Poultry Products Import Ban Reimposed

hat tipTreyfish -

Bird flu in Changgedhaphu contained
Monday, January 16, 2012
The bird flu outbreak at Changgedhaphu in Thimphu has been contained. Authorities are however advising people not to consume poultry products from the area.

Over the last few days since the outbreak was reported, officials culled over 190 chickens in the backyard poultry farms in the area and disinfected all the vehicles coming from the area every day.

They also took people for tests and distributed medicines to 140 people who had consumed poultry products from the area.

more...

http://www.bbs.com.bt/bbs/?p=8360