People come and go, but the creative force of great historical events, as well as important ideas and actions remain. (Aleksandr Romanovic Lurija, 1976)
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Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)
Govt steps to tackle bird flu
Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, Dec 12 – The Chief Minster today directed the departments concerned to take all necessary measures to bring bird flu under control and to prevent its transmission to humans. The Chief Minister who was reviewing the bird flu-related situation with his Ministerial colleagues and senior officials at Dispur, also directed the Veterinary and Health Departments to work together to prevent a disaster.
Disclosing this, official sources here said that the Chief Minister has also directed administration to prohibit forthwith inter-district transportation of poultry and poultry products and made an appeal to the people to cooperate with the authorities in the culling operations. The meeting also decided to enhance the compensation rates of poultry to Rs 80 for each of the broiler variety of fowls, Rs 90 for each of the local variety of fowls, Rs 125 for each of the ducks and Rs 15 for each of the chicks and ducklings.
Culling of poultry in the bird flu affected areas of the State is going in the State, barring the Hajo Revenue Circle areas, where the drive against the disease has already come to conclusion.
The Veterinary Department has been preparing to send more serum and floacal samples from other areas of the State to the Bhopal-based High Security Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (HSADL) and the Pune-based National Institute of Virology (NIV).
Meanwhile, sale, purchase and transportation of poultry and cooked and raw poultry products are prohibited in the Kamrup and Kamrup (Metro) districts. Similar prohibitory orders on sale and transportation of poultry and poultry products have also been promulgated in the other districts from where reports of bird flu prevalence have been reported.
The Basistha Police in the city arrested last night four persons while they were trying to transport 470 poultry to Meghalaya. The persons identified to be Nazir Ali and Muquddar Ali—both owners of the birds and abdur Rahim and Zehirul Islam respectively driver and handyman of the vehicle used in the case, brought the poultry from Barpeta and were heading to Meghalaya. A case has been registered against them (617/08) in the police station.
The Basistha Police also arrested two persons Rafique Ali and Md Sahidul Ali from near the Beltola Social Service Office while they were carrying 84 poultry in gunny bags today. A case (618/08) has been registered against them by the police station, said official sources here.
The Goalpara district administration has also promulgated a similar order prohibiting sale and transportation of poultry and poultry products from and to the district. The measure has been initiated as a preventive step, said official sources in Goalpara.
Official sources in Goalpara told this newspaper that the Veterinary Department in association with the district administration of Goalpara seized today two cartons of eggs at Dudhnoi while the eggs were carried to Meghalaya.
The Goalpara District Veterinary Office today sent 19 sera and floacal samples of poultry to the North East Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (NERDDL) for forwarding them to Bhopal HSADL and Pune NIV. Earlier, the District Veterinary Office had sent 171 sera and floacal samples to the NERDDL for the same purpose.
Collection of sera and floacal samples of poultry in the district is on, said the sources.
Our Correspondents add:
Mangaldoi: There is no report of occurrence of bird flu from any part of Darrang District. However, sale of poultry and poultry products is prohibited in the district for an indefinite period.
Bongaigaon: Culling of poultry started in the Dagtola, Kakragaon and Simalaguri areas of Chirang District today, along with the Tengaigaon area of Bongaigaon District.
The owners of the poultry are unhappy with the compensation amount and they are resenting it to be meagre compared to the market value of the poultry. They have another reason to resent the culling of their birds, as, to them, their birds are healthy apparently. The resentment of the villagers has caused delay in the culling operations. http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/...d=dec1308/at03
Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)
Bird flu alert in north Bengal district
Cooch Behar (WB): An alert for bird flu was sounded on Friday in north Bengal’s Cooch Behar district.
Samples of blood have been sent for the test following the outbreak in the neighbouring districts of Assam. Additional District
Magistrate (D), Cooch Behar, Pannalal Mahapatra, said though there was no report of poultry death, arrangements had been made to disinfect vehicles coming from Assam. Officials of the Animal Resource Development department have sent samples of blood collected from different areas for laboratory tests — PTI
Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)
Bird flu detected in Dibrugarh, alert sounded STAFF CORRESPONDENT
DIBRUGARH, Dec 12 – The Health Ministry confirmed the outbreak of bird flu in Dibrugarh on Wednesday evening after laboratory tests detected strains of the deadly H5N1 avian influenza in the samples sent by veterinary officials of Dibrugarh. The samples were collected from a poultry farm in Chiring Chapori here, after the reported death of more than 120 birds.
The district Veterinary and Animal husbandry department sounded an alert on Wednesday evening and the district administration was quick to respond by banning sale and purchase of poultry including ducks and eggs in the area.
About 30,000 poultry and nearly 1100 ducks are expected to be killed within a three kilometer radius from the detected poultry farm. “The entire culling process is expected to be completed in seven to ten days as RRT are expected to visit farms as well as each and every household in the area,” veterinary officials said. Although, fifty per cent of the cost of birds would be paid to the farmers after culling, it is learned that unscrupulous farmers were either engaged in hiding the birds or shifting them to other areas.
Protective gears like aprons, hand gloves, masks, antiseptic and antiviral medicines etc. reached Dibrugarh on Thursday morning. However, medical examinations of the members of the RRT could not be conducted on Thursday for want of antiviral drug (Tami Flu). This has clearly exposed the unpreparedness of the district administration.
In another incident, town veterinary officer, Dr R B Pradhan on Thursday seized about 30 kilograms of tapeworm-infected carcass of pig from a roadside bazaar near the Doordarshan Staff Colony gate. The farmer, an old man selling the visible unhygienic pork was reprimanded for evading ante mortem of the carcass and selling it for public consumption illegally.
Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)
More from West Bengal
Bird flu scare
Malda, Dec. 12: The government has sounded a north Bengal alert following a bird flu outbreak in Assam, but at least 250 chickens have died in a Malda village in two days and no sample has been sent for tests.
A panchayat leader said the “chickens got drowsy and died”. Villagers complained of dead birds being dumped all over. “Children are playing with them.”
Over 30,000 chickens had died in Malda in January and nearly two lakh were culled. The flu struck Assam less than a month after India declared itself free of the disease. Two teams from Delhi will join three already in that state to assist in human surveillance.
Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)
Crackdown on border shops
OUR BUREAU
Dec. 12: Dispur today moved the Meghalaya government to take steps to prevent the sale of poultry and poultry products in Ri Bhoi district bordering bird flu-affected Kamrup (metro).
The Assam government also arrested six persons in Guwahati for smuggling birds out of the district in violation of Section 144 CrPC that banned the sale and movement of poultry and poultry-related products.
Meghalaya was alerted after reports came in that shops along National Highway 37 on the inter-state border were selling chicken even after bird flu was confirmed in the Central Chick Rearing Farm in Khanapara on Wednesday evening.
The department of animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries under the Union ministry of agriculture also wrote to the Meghalaya government yesterday, saying culling operations within the 3-km radius from the epicentre of flu outbreak at Khanapara extended to certain areas in Meghalaya.
Kamrup (metro) deputy commissioner Prateek Hajela said the state government had taken up the matter at the highest level with its Meghalaya counterpart.
In Guwahati, the four persons — Nizam Ali, Muqadar Ali, Abdul Rahim and Jehirul Islam — were arrested for allegedly trying to transport 470 birds from Barpeta to Shillong. Two more men, Rafiq Ali and Sahidul Ali, were arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle out 84 birds in a gunny bag. The cases against the six of them under Section 140 have been registered at Basistha police station.
Besides the arrests, both chief minister Tarun Gogoi and chief secretary P.C. Sharma held separate meetings to review the situation. The high-level meeting chaired by Gogoi this evening decided to hike compensation for culled birds. According to the new rates, a culled full-grown duck will fetch Rs 125, a local chicken Rs 90, a brolier Rs 80.
Ri Bhoi deputy commissioner S.F. Khongwir admitted that some people were still selling chicken in the bordering areas of the district with Assam, including Guwahati.
He said soon after receiving the information, policemen were sent to areas where poultry is being sold.
Hajela said till last night, a total of 3,900 birds were culled against a target of about 50,000 in Guwahati. “At Patgaon — another avian flu-hit area of Kamrup (metro) — 16,600 birds have been culled. The culling operation at Patgaon is on its last leg and likely to end by tomorrow evening.”
Two additional central health teams will fly to Assam tomorrow to conduct surveillance of people in areas affected by the flu. The teams from the National Institute of Communicable Diseases in New Delhi will join three others already in the state to assist in human surveillance.
The health ministry has already sent 10,000 capsules of Tamiflu, an anti-viral drug, 6,000 surgical masks, 600 personal protective equipment, and two ventilators to the state.
Additional stocks of drugs and masks will be sent in the coming days.
Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)
Assam steps up flu surveillance
13 Dec 2008, 0239 hrs IST, Naresh Mitra & Rishu Kalantry, TNN
GUWAHATI/TINSUKIA: The Assam health department has stepped up surveillance on human beings in the bird flu-hit districts. Health officials said
about 300,000 people were under strict surveillance in the six districts where avian influenza was reported. National Rural Health Mission (Assam) director Partha Gogoi said no case of human infection has been reported so far.
Gogoi added that at least 150 people, who were found suffering from fever in the affected districts, were actually suffering from common cold. "We are keeping a close watch on the health of these people at places where bird flu has been detected. So far, no human infection has been reported. We are also ready with medical teams and necessary drugs in case any human infection is found,'' Gogoi said.
Sufficient quantity of Tamiflu, the drug that is used to treat avian influenza, has been stocked in adequate quantity to treat people if they get infected with bird flu. Five medical teams, comprising medicine specialists, epidemiologists and microbiologists, are monitoring the situation in the affected districts.
On Friday, culling operations continued at a government farm in the city's Khanapara area, Jalah in Kamrup district's Bejera area and ward no 6 in Dibrugarh. Altogether 1,343 fowls were culled by Rapid Response Team personnel at the Central Chicks Rearing farm of the veterinary and animal husbandry department in the Khanapara area on Thursday. Bird flu was confirmed in the government farm after 30 birds died there a few days ago.
Hours before the culling operations started in Dibrugarh, a Central official arrived here on Friday to oversee the process. According to sources, observer Dipankar Biswas, regional officer of the central veterinary department's eastern region, will prepare a report on the culling process. Culling started at the shop of Biswajit Roy in the town's Ward No 6. On Wednesday, the first case of bird flu was detected in this shop. Culling will be getting over in three to four days.
"On the first day, five teams of four members each were pressed into action. Several birds were culled by the end of the day,'' said R Das, district veterinary officer (Dibrugarh).
"Culling started in Chiring Sapori of Ward Number 6 and will be carried out within a radius of three km,'' Das said. "It is a door-to-door operation and will take three-four days to cull all birds in the marked area. A map has been prepared to facilitate members of the culling team. Members of these teams have also received the anti-virus injection to prevent any infection to them.''
"An estimated 40,000 birds, including ducks, are likely to be culled,'' Das added. Earlier, the Dibrugarh district administration had prohibited sale and import of poultry and poultry products to the district after detection of bird flu. A similar ban has been imposed in Tinsukia district.
Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)
Medical workers were going door-to-door to look for people with symptoms of avian influenza in northeast India Friday as the infection in birds spread further, officials said.
So far, no human cases of infection of the deadly H5N1 virus have been reported in the affected Assam state, but authorities stepped up a health drive after 150 people developed some symptoms of the infection.
"About 150 people were treated for fever and upper respiratory tract infections in bird flu-hit areas. We have put the patients in isolation," senior health official Parthajyoti Gogoi told AFP.
Bird flu was ruled out in all cases, the official said.
The virus has spread in the past two weeks across six Assam districts, where an estimated 300,000 people live in the affected areas.
More than 250,000 poultry have been slaughtered so far and an estimated 150,000 more have been ordered to be killed.
The government was "worried" about the infection spreading to humans, as authorities may not be able to cope, local health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
The sale of poultry and poultry products has been banned in most parts of the state.
India reported its worst outbreak of bird flu early this year in the eastern state of West Bengal.
The WHO says the deadly H5N1 strain has killed nearly 250 people, mostly in Southeast Asia, since 2003.
Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)
Bird flu out of control in Assam
UNI
Saturday, December 13th, 2008
GUWAHATI: Bird flu is out of control in Assam and the state has sent an urgent SOS to the Centre for help in terms of finance, technology and manpower to stop further spread of almost pandemic avian flu putting human beings to high risk of acquiring the virus.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi late on Friday night summoned an emergency meeting of his crack team of bureaucrats and reviewed the whole situation as almost the entire Brahmaputra valley was in the grip of the avian flu.
“It is getting very serious. We have gone all out but the way it was spreading, it will be very difficult to manage,” the Chief Minister said to his top bureaucrats, who were summoned to his residence to formulate a combat strategy.
Union Agriculture Secretary J Gopalkumaran has flown in to oversee the culling operation as the state machinery was racing against time to fight the disease.
More than 2.5 lakh chickens were already culled but it was decided at the meeting to cull the entire bird stock of the Brahmaputra valley to get rid of the crisis as the H5N1 virus was notorious to spread under 20 degrees Centigrade.
“With temperature continuing to be lower for the month or so, it has become more important to see that bird flu is stopped now” said state Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma, who also attended the crucial meeting.
The possibility of human infection in any of the North East states could also not be ruled out as the bird flu virus was reportedly brought in by migratory birds, which seek home all over the region.
The government had proved ill-equipped to check its further spread and is now alarmed at any possibility of human infection, with Dr Sharma admitting, “If it transmits to human beings, we don't have infrastructure to meet the crisis.”
So far more than 250 patients were treated for upper respiratory infection which has close symptoms like avian flu but fortunately none of them had been transmitted bird flu. Dr Sharma maintained that few patients could be treated but contamination would jump upwards fast and then the state would be faced with a great problem.
The Minister claimed that the state has stocked medicines for treating affected people but only in about 50 per cent cases, the patients respond to the medications.
As many as nine districts have been confirmed of the outbreak of bird flu, including Guwahati, with all other districts also highly exposed to the possibility of being affected.
“We are working hard but due to low temperature, it is spreading fast,” Veterinary department Director Dr A K Kotoky said.
The state has sought additional Rs three crore as compensation package to the owners of birds, which are to be culled.
Sale and export of poultry has already been banned, but imposition of ban was proving to be a problem due to low awareness level and casual attitude of consumers.
Price of red meat has skyrocketed as that of fish with fast-food business also severely hit.
“Local people are not cooperating with us and it will have a catastrophic effect, far more than any other calamity,” Mr Kotoky warned.
Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)
Dec 13, 2008 Bird flu scare in India
GUWAHATI (India) - INIDA rushed two more teams of bird flu experts to the northeastern state of Assam to step up surveillance after nearly 100 people showed signs of the virus, health officials said on Saturday. Health workers have yet to confirm any human cases of H5N1, but they said patients in six districts were suffering from fever and respiratory infections, which are symptoms of the virus in humans. 'No human cases of H5N1 have been confirmed in the state. But we are on maximum alert,' Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam's Health minister, said.
Three teams of federal medical experts, including epidemiologists and microbiologists, are keeping a close watch on humans in affected areas of the oil- and tea-producing state.
The medical teams brought supplies of equipment as a preventative measure in case the virus spreads to humans, including 10,000 Tamiflu capsules, 6,000 surgical masks and two ventilators.
'More medicines and equipment will reach here in the next two days to cope up with the situation,' Mr Sarma said.
Veterinary officials have slaughtered more than 300,000 chickens and ducks since late November, after the virus was detected in poultry last month in a village close to Guwahati, the region's main city.
More than 400 rapid response teams have been formed for culling operations in areas affected by the disease, which experts suspect was carried by migratory birds. 'By December 16, all culling operations will be completed,' said N. Gokul Ram, a top federal health official told reporters in Guwahati. Police arrested six people in Guwahati on charges of smuggling more than 500 chickens out of the city, violating the ban on sale and transportation of the poultry products in the state.
Samples of dead chickens have been sent for testing in two more districts of Assam.
While no human cases have been reported in India, experts fear the H5N1 virus might mutate or combine with the highly contagious seasonal influenza virus and spark a pandemic that could kill millions of people. Since the virus resurfaced in Asia in 2003, it has killed more than 200 people in a dozen countries, the World Health Organisation says. -- REUTERShttp://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking...ry_313945.html
Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dutchy
Bird flu out of control in Assam
UNI
Saturday, December 13th, 2008
GUWAHATI: Bird flu is out of control in Assam and the state has sent an urgent SOS to the Centre for help in terms of finance, technology and manpower to stop further spread of almost pandemic avian flu putting human beings to high risk of acquiring the virus.
More than 2.5 lakh chickens were already culled but it was decided at the meeting to cull the entire bird stock of the Brahmaputra valley to get rid of the crisis as the H5N1 virus was notorious to spread under 20 degrees Centigrade.
Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)
Experts sent to India's Assam on bird flu scare
13 Dec 2008 09:42:02 GMT
Source: Reuters
By Biswajyoti Das
GUWAHATI, India, Dec 13 (Reuters) - India rushed two more teams of bird flu experts to the northeastern state of Assam to step up surveillance after nearly 100 people showed signs of the virus, health officials said on Saturday.
Health workers have yet to confirm any human cases of H5N1, but they said patients in six districts were suffering from fever and respiratory infections, which are symptoms of the virus in humans.
"No human cases of H5N1 have been confirmed in the state. But we are on maximum alert," Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam's Health minister, said.
Three teams of federal medical experts, including epidemiologists and microbiologists, are keeping a close watch on humans in affected areas of the oil- and tea-producing state.
The medical teams brought supplies of equipment as a preventative measure in case the virus spreads to humans, including 10,000 Tamiflu capsules, 6,000 surgical masks and two ventilators.
"More medicines and equipment will reach here in the next two days to cope up with the situation," Sarma said.
Veterinary officials have slaughtered more than 300,000 chickens and ducks since late November, after the virus was detected in poultry last month in a village close to Guwahati, the region's main city.
More than 400 rapid response teams have been formed for culling operations in areas affected by the disease, which experts suspect was carried by migratory birds.
"By December 16, all culling operations will be completed," said N. Gokul Ram, a top federal health official told reporters in Guwahati.
Police arrested six people in Guwahati on charges of smuggling more than 500 chickens out of the city, violating the ban on sale and transportation of the poultry products in the state.
Samples of dead chickens have been sent for testing in two more districts of Assam.
While no human cases have been reported in India, experts fear the H5N1 virus might mutate or combine with the highly contagious seasonal influenza virus and spark a pandemic that could kill millions of people.
Since the virus resurfaced in Asia in 2003, it has killed more than 200 people in a dozen countries, the World Health Organisation says.
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For WHO bird flu cases in humans double-click on ID:nL9118602] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The WHO described an outbreak of bird flu in neighbouring West Bengal state last January, when more than 4 million birds were culled, as the worst ever in India. (Editing by Matthias Williams and Bill Tarrant)
Guwahati, Dec 13: Two more districts in Assam were suspected to have been affected by bird flu with poultry deaths reported from Sibsagar and North Lakhimpur.
Blood samples of the birds from the two districts were sent for tests to laboratories in Pune and Bhopal, Union Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Secretary N Gokulram told reporters here.
While Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said earlier that nine districts were affected, Gokulram, who arrived here from Delhi yesterday, said that they numbered six.
Sibsagar and North Lakhimpur districts, however, were fresh areas where the avian influenza was suspected to have spread.
Appropriate action would be taken in the two districts, Gokulram said, after receiving reports from the Bhopal-based High Security Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and the National Institute of Virology, Pune.
The official said he had met the state chief secretary last evening and Assam government had geared up to tackle the situation.
"Cordoning of infected areas was enforced, culling speeded up and sanitation done so that nothing is left for a fresh outbreak of the disease," he said.
Purchase and movement of poultry products were banned within a radius of three km off the affected areas, Gokulram said. So far 93 rapid response teams were working in affected Kamrup (Rural), Kamrup (Metro) where Guwahati is located, Nalbari, Barpeta, Chirang and Dibrugarh districts.
3.18 lakh poultry birds were culled so far with 1.8 lakh eggs and 11,000 kg of feed destroyed.
Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)
We (treyfish and I) would like any help anyone can give, to translate this article. We have tried numerous ways, but cannot copy and paste, or use google translation.
Podiceps cristatus A fairly common winter
visitor, observed mainly on Sibsagar Tank and Joysagar Tank, also on Dorou
beel.
A maximum of 40 on 21 March. Extreme dates were 5 November and
15 May.
100.-
1991
Bird observations from Sibsagar 37
SPOT-BIlLED PEliCAN
Pelecanusphilippensis Apparently a local migrant
with seven near Phokolai beelon 29 March, singles in the Pani-Dihing area on
15 and 26 July, and two between Gaurisagar and Dikhowmukh on 2 August.
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON Nycticorax nycticorax Found nesting
on 15 July in a mixed heronry near Milonkur, Pani-Dihing. Associated with
Little Cormorants, Grey and Purple Herons and Glossy Ibises.
YElLOW BITrERN Ixobrychus sinensis One seen near Saragua, Pani-
Dihing, on 26 July.
BLACK BITrERN Dupetorflavicollis Single birds seen several times between
12h30 and 14hOOon 15 July near Milonkur.
ASIAN OPENBll.l Anastomus oscitansA common resident with a maximum
of 25 seen soaring over Hatighuli beelon 15 November.
BLACK STORK Ciconia nigra Two or three were seen on an islet near
Dikhowmukh on 6 December.
BLACK-NECKED STORK Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus One in a field behind
the Dak Bungalow on 13 August and two near Rudrasagar on 8 September.
GREATER ADJUTANT Leptoptilos dubius Now scarce but many sightings,
mainly of single birds.
LESSER ADJUTANT L. javanicus A common resident with a maximum of
four seen in the Pani-Dihing area on 2 January. Two pairs were found nesting
in a Mangifera indica tree in Saraguri on 11 January.
GLOSSY mIS Plegadisfakinellus A fairly common resident with a maximum
of 300 seen in the Pani-Dihing area on 25 October. Found nesting near
Milonkur on 15 July.
GREYlAG GOOSE Anser anserA common winter visitor with a maximum
of 109 on Sibsagar Tank on 23 January.
BAR-HEADED GOOSE A. indicus A common winter visitor with a
maximum of at least 316 on Joysagar Tank on 25 December.
FULVOUS WHISTliNG DUCK Dendrocygna bicolor An uncommon
resident with a maximum of 45 seen on Dorou beelon 13 February. Small
numbers were seen elsewhere in winter, on Phokolai beel on 29 March, near
Milonkur on 15 July and between Sibsagar and Disangmukh on 19 July.
RUDDY SHELDUCK Tadmna ferruginea A common winter visitor with a
maximum of about 700 on Gokal- Tikira chapori.
COMMON TEAL
Anas crecca A locally abundant winter visitor with a
maximum of over 1,000 on Sibsagar Tank on 9 January.
SPOT-BIlLED DUCK A. poecilorhyncha An uncommon resident but large
numbers appear in winter. Maximum of 300 on Sibsagar Tank on 9 January.
.. ,
38
A. CHOUDHURY Forktail6
MALLARD A.
platyrhynchos Fairly common in winter.
GADWAlL A. streperaA common winter visitor.
NORTHERN SHOVELER A. dypeata A winter visitor, occurring only in
small nwnbers.
COMMON POCHARD Aythya ferina A common winter visitor on Sibsagar
Tank but rare elsewhere. Extreme dates were 27 October and 3 April.
FERRUGINOUS POCHARD A. nyroca Twenty on Phokolai beel on 29
November, a few on Sibsagar Tank on 17 and 22 December, and groups of
five and nine seen on Phokolai and Dorou beelson 13 February.
BAER'S POCHARD A. baeri The only record was of seven on Sibsagar Tank
on 8 February.
TUFTED DUCK A. fuligula A common winter visitor with a maximwn of
150 on Sibsagar Tank on 21 March. Extreme dates were 18 October and 12
April.
COTTON PYGMY GOOSE Nettapus coromandelianusA common resident.
OSPREY Pandion haJ:iaetusOne seen near Kandhulijan beelon 2 January.
PAlLAS'S FISH-EAGLE Haliaeetus leuaJryphus Only one seen - near
Milonkur on 15 July.
EURASIAN GRIFFON Gypsfulvus Singles seen near the Dak Bungalow on
23 January and near Disangmukh on 2 February. Ali and Ripley (1983) state
it occurs as far east as western Assam and so these are the first records for
Sibsagar District and eastern Assam.
RED-HEADED VULTURE Sarcogyps calvus Two near Disangmukh on
25 October and one near Mori-Disang beelon 31 December.
EASTERN MARSH-HARRIER Circus (aernginosus) spilonotusA male seen
on Doboli chapori, offDisangmukh, on 7 February was the first record for the
Brahmaputra valley. Ali and Ripley (1983) record it only for Cachar and
Manipur.
HEN HARRIER C. cyaneus Single males were seen at Hatighuli on 15
November, near Netaipukhuri on 20 November, near Ghoka-Singarajan on
27 December and on Doboli chaporion 7 February.
PIED HARRIER C. melanoleuaJsSingles seen near Phokolai beelon 29 March
and 29 November and at Balijan, Pani-Dihing, on 20 November.
GREATER SPOTTED EAGLE Aquila clanga Singles seen at Samukjan-
Boloma, Pani-Dihing, on 20 November, Phokolai beel on 29 November and
on Doboli chapori on 2 December; two near Saragua on 27 December.
KALIJ PHEASANT Lophura leucomelana A confirmed report ITom Sola
1991
Bird observations from Sibsagar 39
ReselVed Forest. Extinct in the Meteka area near Sibsagar town but may still
exist in Diroi, Dilli and Abhoypur ReselVed Forests.
RED JUNGLEFOWL
GaDusgaDusRare but still widely distributed.
COMMON CRANE Grus grns Fifteen seen on Doboli chapori on 2 February.
A vagrant to Assam according to Ali and Ripley (1983).
NORTHERN lAPWING Vanellus vane/lus A fairly common winter visitor
with a maximum of 25 on Doboli chapori on 2 February. Ali and Ripley
(1983) state that it is rare and erratic in Assam.
GREY-HEADED lAPWING V. cinereus A fairly common winter visitor,
arriving in October.
GREY PLOVER Pluvialis squatarola About 12 seen near Phokolai beel on
29 November. A vagrant to Assam (Ali and Ripley 1983).
SPOTTED REDSHANK Tringa erythropus One or two in the Balijan area,
Pani-Dihing, on 20 November.
WHISKERED TERN Chlidonias hybridusA fairly common resident.
BlACK-BEUlED TERN Sterna acuticauda One at Disangmukh on
7 February.
umE TERN S. albifronsOne at Disangmukh on 7 February.
COllARED DOVE StreptopeliadecaoctoAn uncommon resident.
ORIENTAL PIED HORNBllL Anthracoceros albirostrisNow rare, found in
Diroi, Sola, Abhoypur and Dilli ReselVed Forests.
GREAT HORNBllL Buceros bicornisNow very rare. A relict population may
survive in Abhoypur and Dilli ReselVed Forests.
ASIAN GLOSSY STARLING Aplonis panayensis Very rare. One near the
Dak Bungalow, sometime in March or April.
BANK MYNA Acridotheresginginianus First noted in the Fulai-Dighali area of
Pani-Dihing on 25 October. Seen subsequently in several localities in Pani-
Dihing and adjoining areas, mostly singles or pairs but twice small parties
were seen. These were the first records for the area, extending the range of the
species a considerable distance east. The previously recorded limit was
Kamrup at 91°45'E (Ripley 1982).
JUNGLE MYNAA. fuscus Common resident.
WHrrE-VENTED MYNA A. grandis First noted on 14 February when a
pair was seen on a silk-cotton tree near the Dak Bungalow. Several pairs were
seen in the same area during the next two days. The first record for the plains
of the Brahmaputra and the second for Assam. The first record for Assam was
of a pair obselVed by the author in the North Cachar Hills in February 1986.
40
A. CHOUDHURY Forktail6
Other species recorded were: Little Grebe
Tachybaptus rujicoOis, Great
Connorant Phalaaocorax carbo, Indian Connorant P. juscicoOis, Little
Connorant P. niger, Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster,Grey Heron Ardea
cinerea, Purple Heron A. purpurea, Little Heron Buwrides striatus, Indian
Pond-Heron Ardeola grayii, Cattle Egret Bubukus ibis, Great Egret Egretta
alba, Intennediate Egret E. intermedia, little Egret E. garzetta, Cinnamon
Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus, Lesser Whistling Duck Dendrocygnajavanka,
Northern Pintail
Anas acuta, Eurasian Wigeon A. penelope, Black Kite Milvus
migrans, Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus, White-rumped Vulture Gyps
bengaknsis, Long-billed Vulture G. indkus, Shikra Accipiter badius, Tawny
Eagle Aquila rapax, White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenkurus,
VaneOus indkus, Asiatic Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva,
Marsh Sandpiper
Tringa stagnatilis, Green Sandpiper T. ochropus, Wood
Sandpiper T. glareola, Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos, Black-winged
Stilt Himanwpus himantopus, Common Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus,
River Tern
Sterna aurantia, Yellow-footed Pigeon Treron phoenicoptera, Rock
Pigeon Columba l£via, Red Turtle-Dove Streptopelia tranquebarka, Spotted
Dove S. chinensis, Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indka, Alexandrine Parakeet
Blue-tailed Bee-eater M. philippinus, Green Bee-eater M.
orientalis,
Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis,Hoopoe Upupa epops, Lineated
Barbet Megalaima lineata, Blue-throated Barbet M. asiatica, Coppersmith
Barbet M. haemacephala, Black-rumped Goldenback Dinopium benghalense,
Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker
Picoidesmacei, Oriental Skylark Alauda gulgula,
Plain Martin
Riparia paludkola, Barn Swallow Hirnndo rustica, Large Cuckooshrike
Coracina novaehoOandiae,
Common lora Aegithina tiphia, Redwhiskered
Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus, Red-vented Bulbul P. cafer, Black
Drongo DU:rnrus macrocercus, Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo D. remifer,
Spangled Drongo
D. hottenwttus, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo D. paradiseus,
Black-hooded Oriole
Oriolus xanthornus, Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta
vagabunda, House Crow Corvus splendens, Large-billed Crow C.
macrorhynchos,
Great Tit Parus major, Asian Magpie-robin Copsychus saularis,
White-rumped Shama C.
malabarkus, Common Stonechat Sa:xU:olatorquata,
White-tailed Stonechat S.
leucura, Striated Warbler Megalurus palustris,
Common Tailorbird
Orthowmus suwrius, Red-throated Flycatcher Ficedula
parva, Grey-headed Flycatcher CulU:U:apaceylonensis,White Wagtail Motacil/a
alba, Grey Wagtail M. cinerea, Yellow Wagtail M. jlava, Yellow-hooded
Wagtail M. citreola, Paddyfield Pipit Anthus (novaeseelandiae) rnfulus, Rosy
---
1991
Bird observations from Sibsagar 41
Pipit
A. rosealUS,Ashy Woodswallow Artamus fuscus, Brown Shrike Lanius
cristalUS,Grey-backed Shrike L. tephrorwlUS,Chestnut-tailed Starling Stumus
malabaricus, Asian Pied Starling S. contra, Common Myna Acridotheres tristis,
Bird flu out of control in Assam
UNI
Saturday, December 13th, 2008 AT 1:12 PM
GUWAHATI: Bird flu is out of control in Assam and the state has sent an urgent SOS to the Centre for help in terms of finance, technology and manpower to stop further spread of almost pandemic avian flu putting human beings to high risk of acquiring the virus.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi late on Friday night summoned an emergency meeting of his crack team of bureaucrats and reviewed the whole situation as almost the entire Brahmaputra valley was in the grip of the avian flu.
“It is getting very serious. We have gone all out but the way it was spreading, it will be very difficult to manage,” the Chief Minister said to his top bureaucrats, who were summoned to his residence to formulate a combat strategy.
Union Agriculture Secretary J Gopalkumaran has flown in to oversee the culling operation as the state machinery was racing against time to fight the disease.
More than 2.5 lakh chickens were already culled but it was decided at the meeting to cull the entire bird stock of the Brahmaputra valley to get rid of the crisis as the H5N1 virus was notorious to spread under 20 degrees Centigrade.
“With temperature continuing to be lower for the month or so, it has become more important to see that bird flu is stopped now” said state Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma, who also attended the crucial meeting.
The possibility of human infection in any of the North East states could also not be ruled out as the bird flu virus was reportedly brought in by migratory birds, which seek home all over the region.
The government had proved ill-equipped to check its further spread and is now alarmed at any possibility of human infection, with Dr Sharma admitting, “If it transmits to human beings, we don't have infrastructure to meet the crisis.”
So far more than 250 patients were treated for upper respiratory infection which has close symptoms like avian flu but fortunately none of them had been transmitted bird flu. Dr Sharma maintained that few patients could be treated but contamination would jump upwards fast and then the state would be faced with a great problem.
The Minister claimed that the state has stocked medicines for treating affected people but only in about 50 per cent cases, the patients respond to the medications.
As many as nine districts have been confirmed of the outbreak of bird flu, including Guwahati, with all other districts also highly exposed to the possibility of being affected.
“We are working hard but due to low temperature, it is spreading fast,” Veterinary department Director Dr A K Kotoky said.
The state has sought additional Rs three crore as compensation package to the owners of birds, which are to be culled.
Sale and export of poultry has already been banned, but imposition of ban was proving to be a problem due to low awareness level and casual attitude of consumers.
Price of red meat has skyrocketed as that of fish with fast-food business also severely hit.
“Local people are not cooperating with us and it will have a catastrophic effect, far more than any other calamity,” Mr Kotoky warned.
Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)
I've pulled the Flash apart. All of the text is an image. I tried to use OCR on it, but I need a font with these characters. Probably the best route is to have someone read/translate the article.
I've extracted the source image and have attached it.
hope that helps.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Commonground
We (treyfish and I) would like any help anyone can give, to translate this article. We have tried numerous ways, but cannot copy and paste, or use google translation.
Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)
Why are more medicine and equipment being shipped to "cope with the situation", when apparently no one is infected. *If* there is a situation, I hope they have more ventilators on the way.
GUWAHATI, India, Dec 13 (Reuters) - India rushed two more teams of bird flu experts to the northeastern state of Assam to step up surveillance after nearly 100 people showed signs of the virus, health officials said on Saturday.
Health workers have yet to confirm any human cases of H5N1, but they said patients in six districts were suffering from fever and respiratory infections, which are symptoms of the virus in humans.
"No human cases of H5N1 have been confirmed in the state. But we are on maximum alert," Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam's Health minister, said.
Three teams of federal medical experts, including epidemiologists and microbiologists, are keeping a close watch on humans in affected areas of the oil- and tea-producing state.
The medical teams brought supplies of equipment as a preventative measure in case the virus spreads to humans, including 10,000 Tamiflu capsules, 6,000 surgical masks and two ventilators.
"More medicines and equipment will reach here in the next two days to cope up with the situation," Sarma said.
Veterinary officials have slaughtered more than 300,000 chickens and ducks since late November, after the virus was detected in poultry last month in a village close to Guwahati, the region's main city.
More than 400 rapid response teams have been formed for culling operations in areas affected by the disease, which experts suspect was carried by migratory birds. Continued...
Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)
India battles bird flu as farmers resist cull
Posted: 13 December 2008 2339 hrs
GUWAHATI, India - Officials fighting the spread of bird flu in northeast India stepped up surveillance on Saturday as poultry farmers resisted the slaughter of chickens in affected areas, a minister said.
Veterinary experts from New Delhi visited affected areas in Assam state to supervise the culling exercise and brief local officials on how to check the spread of the infection, the government said.
More than 250,000 poultry have been slaughtered so far and an estimated 150,000 more have been ordered to be killed.
But officials were facing difficulties as farmers were unwilling to hand over their birds.
"We have increased the compensation from 50 rupees (about a dollar) to 90 rupees per chicken," local health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told reporters.
Five teams of medical experts were also going door-to-door to look for people with symptoms of avian influenza after nearly 150 people developed some symptoms of the deadly H5N1 virus.
All the affected people have been treated and no human cases have been found so far, the minister said.
The virus has spread in the past two weeks across six Assam districts, where an estimated 300,000 people live in the affected areas.
The government was worried about the infection spreading to humans, as authorities may not be able to cope, minister Sarma said earlier this week.
The sale of poultry and poultry products has been banned in most parts of the state.
India reported its worst outbreak of bird flu early this year in the eastern state of West Bengal.
The WHO says the H5N1 strain has killed nearly 250 people, mostly in Southeast Asia, since 2003.
Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)
BIRD FLU HITS ASSAM: Seven districts have been affected and culling operation are underway.
Guwahati: Assam has been hit by bird flu once again. Seven districts have been affected and culling operations are underway and poultry sale has been banned.
There are unconfirmed reports of probable spread of avian influenza to humans. And though isolation facilities in hospitals are ready, the authorities seem helpless in the face of the deadly virus.
So as culling operations like this one is taking place across Assam, the biggest difficulty it's facing is the absence of trained staff or rapid response teams to carry out such operations.
"Most of the rapid response team has been trained. But the outbreak is spreading from one district to other," said Birdflu Control Team's Dr Amarjyoti Hazarika.
All areas within a 3 kilometre radius of the epicentre have been decalred as high risk zone. Yet awarness seems to be at its lowest.
Poultry owner Moon Dutta refuses to part with the birds despite the flu.
"Last time I lost Rs 50,000 because of bird flu. Why should I take my birds, they are fine," he said.
Meanwhile the Assam's Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is concerned about people's causal attitute towards the deadly virus.
"I am literary worried that people are taking it lightly," he said.
A fear not unfounded, but the Union Health Minister says that there is no reason to worry.
"There is manpower and technical support. So far there are no cases of humans being affected," said Ramadoss.
A team has already arrived from Delhi to oversee cullng operations in Assam. Officials say the disease will be contained by end-December.
India's Assam State Battling Serious Bird Flu Outbreak
By Steve Herman
New Delhi
13 December 2008
Herman report - Download (MP3) audio clip
Herman report - Listen (MP3) audio clip
Indian health officials have been dispatched to the northeastern state of Assam to monitor people with flu-like symptoms after an outbreak of avian influenza. A massive culling operation of poultry is under way.
India has sent avian influenza experts to the northeastern state of Assam to diagnose people who are suffering from flu-like symptoms.
Health officials cull chickens suspected to be infected with bird flu virus at a farm in Gauhati, India, 11 Dec 2008
About 300,000 chickens and ducks have been slaughtered in the state since late last month after the virus was detected in poultry near the region's main city of Guwahati.
The state's chief minister, Tarun Gogoi, tells VOA News, it is the worst bird flu outbreak Assam has experienced. "I'm taking the matter very, very seriously about the bird flu and I'm confident we'll be able to contain it," he said.
Medical teams from New Delhi have brought with them thousands of Tamiflu capsules and surgical masks as a preventive measure.
The chief minister says numerous people complaining of flu-like symptoms have been examined and no confirmed human case of the H5N1 virus has been detected in Assam.
"It has not gone to the humans," he said. "Till today we are taking all the precautionary measures. We're involving the health department. We're involving everybody so that it will not spread to the human body."
Since the virus resurfaced in Asia five years ago, bird flu has killed more than 200 people in a dozen countries but there has never been a confirmed case in India.
An outbreak of bird flu in January in West Bengal and Bangladesh, which border Assam, led to the culling of millions of poultry.
India's health ministry has blamed the latest outbreak on migratory birds.
The sale and export of poultry has been banned in Assam. Authorities say six people have been arrested for allegedly smuggling chickens from Guwahati.
The current culling in Assam is being hampered because owners of poultry are angrily denying their birds are sick and that the compensation being offered is below the market value for chickens and ducks. Chief Minister Gogoi says the amount of compensation is being raised.
The H5N1 virus has been a major concern of health officials worldwide who warn that if it mutates or combines with seasonal influenza viruses it could trigger a pandemic that could cause millions of human deaths.
Department of Animal Husbandry had notified avian influenza in Block Gobardhana, Barpeta District and Block West Nalbari, Nalbari District (on 4.12.08) in Rani and Rampur block of Kamrup district (01.12.2008) and Hajo block of Kamrup district (27.11.08). Further outbreaks have been notified on 10.12.2008 in Block Sidli Chirang [District Chirang] and Bezera, Guwahati Municipality [District Kamrup] and Dibrugarh Municipality [District Dibrugarh].
A status update is as under:
* Central Teams are stationed in the blocks of Hajo; Rani and Rampur in Kamrup district; Barpeta and Nalbari districts where the outbreaks are notified.
* Teams for other affected areas of District Chirang and Dibrugarh have been constituted and are being deputed.
I. Kamrup district:
In the Hajo block of Kamrup district:
-- The total population of 23473 in 0-3 km area, spread over 25 villages is under active surveillance of which a population of 17,394 was covered under active surveillance on 10.12.2008 . In 3-10 km a population of 1,57,7896 have been covered.
-- Two cases of URI with fever were reported. No cases of Influenza like illness with history of contact with infected poultry have been detected in the community.
-- Four cases with Upper Respiratory Tract infection have been identified in the out patient Department of the identified hospital but none of them has any history of exposure to sick/dead poultry.
-- A total of 51,397 birds have been culled so far. Mopping up and sanitization operations have started in Hajo block by Department of Animal husbandry.
-- 31 animal health workers and 5 hospital staffs are on chemoprophylaxis.
- Rampur Blocks of Kamrup District.
-- A population of 34,825 has been covered in the 0-3 km area by active surveillance. A total of 8 cases of URI and fever have been detected. None of them had history of exposure to infected poultry.
-- In the 3-10 Km a population of 20,457 has been covered.
-- Passive surveillance is done in all health facilities. 70 cases of URI and fever have been detected and none of them has history of exposure to infected poultry.
-- So far a total of 1,91,069 birds have been culled.
-- 80 Animal health workers are on chemoprophylaxis.
- Azara/Rani Block of Kamrup District
-- Out of a total population of 8572 in 24 villages in 0-3 km radius, a population of 7326 has been covered. In 3-10 km area, a population of 12,203 have been covered.
-- Seven cases of fever and upper respiratory infections were identified in 0-3 km area. None of them had any history of exposure to sick or dead birds.
-- In the identified hospital a total of 19 fever and URI cases have reported. None of them had any exposure history to infected poultry.
-- So far, 7,202 birds have been culled.
-- 73 animal health workers are on chemoprophylaxis.
II. Barpeta district
-- In 0-3 km radius, a population of 7,926 have been surveyed and the surveillance in 3-10 km is being initiated.
-- 90 cases of fever with URI have been detected in the 0-3 km area. None of them had exposure history.
-- So far, 12,131 birds have been culled.
- 110 animal health workers have been put under Tamiflu Chemoprophylaxis.
III. Nalbari district
-- In 0-3 km radius, a population of 11,222 have been covered. In 3-10 km area Surveillance has been started and a population 3,679 have been covered.
-- Seven cases of fever with URI has been detected in the 0-3 km area and none had exposure history.
-- So far, 10,173 birds have been culled.
-- 101 animal health workers have been put under Tamiflu Chemoprophylaxis.
- Isolation facilities have been strengthened to admit and treat suspect cases.
- 10,000 capsules of Tamiflu, 6,000 surgical masks, 600 personal protective equipments, 200 N-95 masks and two ventilators have been supplied by MoHFW. Additional logistics of 5000 Tamiflu, 300 PPE, 100 N-95 masks and 3000 three layered surgical masks are being sent.
- Communication materials in Assamese (both print and media) developed by MOHFW and UNICEF, covering human and animal health has been provided to the state Government through the local UNICEF Office.
The situation is being monitored on a daily basis.
-
-----
__________________
GIMI69 (IRONOREHOPPER)
--
People come and go, but the creative force of great historical events, as well as important ideas and actions remain. (Aleksandr Romanovic Lurija, 1976)
-- A TIME'S MEMORY (Blog) ATTRAVERSO QUESTI GIORNI (Blog) tracciatore_traccia@libero.it
Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)
No report of bird flu in humans yet
Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, Dec 13 – The bird flu-related situation in the State is under control. But the State Government has been requested by the Central team of experts to expedite the process of poultry culling in the affected areas and to conduct such operations comprehensively. The State Government has also been requested to cordon off the affected areas. The Meghalaya Government has also been requested by the Central team of veterinary experts to undertake culling of poultry in its territory adjacent to Khanapara area of the city.
Reports of unusual death of poultry have also come from Chaulpara village in Akhoifuta area under Kheluwa Development Block of Sivasagar District, Naoboicha Development Block of Lakhimpur District, Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) Ward No 37 (Kharghuli area) of the city and Dolongpar village under Tamulput Development Block of Baksa District.
Samples of the birds from these places have been sent to the Bhopal-based High Security Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (HSADL) and Pune-based National Institute of Virology (NIV). 37 samples of birds from the wildlife sanctuaries of the State have also been sent to the above laboratories. Preventive culling of poultry were undertaken at Chaulpara village, Naoboicha and Kharghuli areas today. Altogether 93 Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) are conducting the culling operations in the State.
Five persons in Hajo Revenue Circle, 68 persons in Rampur Development Block and 23 in Azara Development Block who have been suffering from upper respiratory tract infection (URI), have been kept under active surveillance by the Health Department. However, no case of transmission of bird flu virus to humans has been reported from any part of the State so far.
The State Government has asked the Veterinary Department to set up an HSADL-like laboratory in the State and offered to bear the cost for the purpose.
N Gokul Ram, Secretary, Animal Husbandry, Veterinary and Dairy of the Union Agriculture Ministry said at a press conference here this morning that culling in five flu-infected locations of the State were completed. The deadline for completion of such operations in the other four affected locations was set to be December 16. Gokul Ram had led a three-member Central team on a two-day visit to the State for taking stock of the bird flu-related situation.
Meanwhile, State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma this afternoon reiterated at another press conference that the State Health Department does not have the required infrastructure to treat thousands of patients in the event of large-scale transmission of bird flu to humans. The MMC Hospital in the city has one isolation unit ready at present for treating patients with bird flu virus infection. The Central Government has supplied the State five ventilators on loan. Expeditious culling of the birds in the affected areas is hence to be resorted to for preventing such a disaster, the Minister said.
Dr AK Bandopadhaya, Commissioner, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary of Agriculture Ministry, who was also present in the morning press conference, told the newspersons that the source of infection and how the disease spread to newer areas remained to be confirmed. However, the transportation of poultry from the affected areas and the State’s porus border with Bangladesh might be the two reasons, among others, for the present developments, he said.
But he maintained that there was nothing exceptional in the way the disease spread in the State.
Gokul told the news persons that the loss incurred by the State might touch several crores of rupees, though an estimation is yet to be made to ascertain the exact amount. He also informed that the exact number of farmers affected by the phenomenon also remained to be ascertained.
Sarma told the news persons that the State Government would pay compensation at enhanced rates to the farmers, who had lost their poultry in the culling operations, with effect from November 29 last when the culling of poultry started in the State. Moreover, the Government will also bear the interest subsidy on the bank loans of such farmers and arrange for their re-employment under the Assam Vikas Yojana.
The Government would also pay Rs 10 per bird for a month to those poultry farmers living within the 3-10 km radius area of epicentres of the outbreak.
The Veterinary Department has 432 RRTs at present and the Chief Minister has directed the Department to raise it to 1,000. But this will take time, said the Minister.
The Minister also apprised the newspersons that till yesterday 3,17, 673 birds were culled, 1,60,995 eggs and 11,000 kgs of poultry feed were destroyed. It is estimated that during the culling operations 5,36,000 birds will be killed, the Minister said.
Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)
Bird flu: Centre asks Assam to mop up culling in 3 days
Posted: Dec 14, 2008 at 0016 hrs IST
Guwahati, Shillong: Fifteen days after the Assam Government failed to bring avian influenza under control, the Centre on Saturday directed the state Government to mop up culling operations in three days so that it did not spread to newer areas in the region.
Culling operation of fowls have been also initiated in four places on the Meghalaya side of Khanapara late Saturday evening. Meghalaya Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department Director Dr D Khonglah said about 3,000 fowls were going to be culled. Meghalaya had recently imposed a ban on import of chicken and poultry products.
A high-level Central team headed by N Gokulram, secretary, department of animal husbandry in the Agriculture Ministry on Friday met senior Assam Government officials.
While the first case of bird flu was confirmed and notified at a village in Kamrup, Assam, on November 27, it has since spread to at least nine locations in six districts in the state.
The possibility of migratory birds having brought the virus has not been ruled out. The Central team also did not rule out the Bangladesh route, as one of the several possibilities.http://www.indianexpress.com/news/bi...3-days/398141/
Saturday, 13 December 2008 13:58 The Center of Assam nine locations in six districts affected by bird flu has reported. Union Agriculture Secretary Ann 0 Gokulram this information in the Guwahati said that so far, the five places to kill chickens and Bttkhon work is complete.The four other places this month, work will be completed by the deadline of 16. The state government at other places to prevent the disease from spreading from bird flu-affected places, ten kilometers under the purview of Sanitation has given instructions to keep.
Union Agriculture Secretary, Mr M Cokul Ram has expressed the possibility that bird flu in Assam, bordering Bangladesh hit by the disease can spread. Keeping this in view the entire Assam - Bangladesh border guards have preferment. Seven hundred of the State Department have been highly Ashtarch. The State Government bird flu among poultry damage, Bdakh beneficial for those planning to implement a decision. State of almost eight million people Poaltry linked to the farming and business is affected. The state government, keeping in view people's reaction to the death of chicken and Bdakh Unlike Commpansesn weight of the steps taken Ahane. http://translate.google.com/translat...3Den%26tl%3Dhi
GUWAHATI: For the last two days, Caesar, a leopard at the Assam state zoo, has refused to eat the food being served. From raw mutton to cooked minced lamb legs, zookeepers have tried in vain to make Caesar eat. The reason: a change in menu from chicken to mutton. Poultry and poultry products were banned after an outbreak of bird flu in Assam. "The cats at the zoo were earlier given chicken, but all of a sudden when we started serving them mutton they are refusing to eat," zoo warden Narayan Mahanta said.
There are about 30 cats in the zoo, from leopards to clouded leopards and jungle cats. "We even tried serving them boiled minced mutton but still their acceptance level is less than 30 per cent. This is a matter of concern.” us," Mahanta said.http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1213719
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Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)
The Center of Assam nine locations in six districts affected by bird flu has reported. Union Agriculture Secretary Ann 0 Gokulram this information in the Guwahati said that so far, the five places to kill chickens and Bttkhon work is complete.The four other places this month, work will be completed by the deadline of 16. The state government at other places to prevent the disease from spreading from bird flu-affected places, ten kilometers under the purview of Sanitation has given instructions to keep. 
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