News Analysis India

Tag: Bird Flu Outbreak

  • Samples of dead cranes in Delhi zoo test negative for bird flu: Officials

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: All 12 samples of dead cranes in the Delhi zoo have tested negative for bird flu, authorities said on Friday, a week after the first case of avian influenza was detected in its premises.

    “Four cranes were found dead in the Delhi zoo a few days ago. Twelve samples were collected on Monday and sent to National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) of Indian Council of Agricultural Research for testing, Bhopal,” Dr.Rakesh Singh, the director of the animal husbandry unit of the Delhi government, said.

    All the 12 samples have tested negative, he said.

    Last week, samples from a dead owl in the Delhi zoo had tested positive for avian influenza.

    ALSO READ: Over 52,000 poultry birds to be culled at Punjab’s Mohali

    Zoo Director Ramesh Pandey said they were following all protocols and monitoring the situation strictly.

    “We have been using the ebird mobile application to keep track of the birds in the premises of the zoo,” he said.

    This is the first time the application is being used for bird monitoring and record keeping during the outbreak of avian influenza.

    The application allows the user to enter sightings from anywhere in the world, even in areas with no cell service, or Internet access.

    Singh said that 1,338 bird deaths have been reported in Delhi between January 6 and January 21 amid the bird flu situation.

    ALSO READ: No bird flu in Karimnagar, poultry sector relieved

    Of the 207 samples collected from various places in the national capital, 24 have tested positive for avian influenza so far, he said.

    On Tuesday, authorities restricted the entry of public into the Red Fort till Friday after a sample of a dead crow tested positive for bird flu.

    Around 15 crows were found dead in the premises of the Red Fort on January 10.

    Last week, municipal corporations in the city had imposed a temporary ban on sale and storage of poultry or processed chicken meat after samples taken from crows and ducks at parks and lakes in the national capital tested positive for bird flu.

    Around 400 ducks were culled at Sanjay Lake on January 11.

    ALSO READ: Punjab reports first bird flu case as samples taken from dead goose test positive

    The Delhi government had also banned the sale of processed and packaged chicken brought from outside the city and ordered the closure of the Ghazipur poultry market in east Delhi for 10 days.

    However, the ban was lifted on Thursday after all the 100 samples taken from Ghazipur, Asia’s largest poultry market, tested negative.

  • Bird flu: Assam bans entry of poultry products from outside Northeastern

    By PTI
    GUWAHATI: The Assam government has imposed an indefinite ban on the entry of poultry products from outside the Northeastern region as a precautionary measure following avian flu outbreak in some states.

    The ban comes into force with immediate effect and will remain in effect until further orders, according to a notification issued by the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary department.

    However, there is no need to panic as the state has not reported any confirmed case of the bird flu so far, director of the state veterinary department Ashok Barman said.

    ALSO READ: Government says avian flu confirmed in six states; over 1.6 lakh birds to be culled in Haryana

    Assam imports poultry products from other parts of the country, especially Eastern India, but officials said there will not be a shortage of chicken due to the large scale local production and storage.

    The government has imposed a “temporary ban on entry of poultry as a precautionary measure through western border of the State in the interest of prevailing escalation of the disease to Assam and other Northeastern states”, the notification said.

    This has been done due to the outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza in some parts of the country which is a highly contagious avian disease having zoonotic potential, it added.

    ALSO READ: Punjab issues advisory for surveillance of poultry farms, wetlands amid bird flu scare

    Advisories have already been issued to the authorities concerned for strengthening the active and targeted surveillance against the disease.

    “Poultry products are usually imported to the state from West Bengal, Bihar, Rajasthan, UP among others and we have decided to ban it temporarily as infected birds should not be allowed to come to Assam,” Barman said.

    The Centre has asked the states that are still unaffected by avian flu to keep a vigil on any unusual mortality of birds.

    ALSO READ: Bird flu – Madhya Pradesh govt bans chicken trade with some southern states

    The disease has so far been confirmed from six states – Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Gujarat.

  • Government says avian flu confirmed in six states; over 1.6 lakh birds to be culled in Haryana

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: More bird deaths were reported from some parts of the country on Friday amid cases of avian influenza, with the Haryana government planning to cull over 1.60 lakh birds in Panchkula district after samples tested positive for the disease, even as the Centre said that bird flu has been confirmed so far in six states.

    The Centre said bird flu has been confirmed so far in Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Gujarat, and asked these six states to contain the disease as per the action plan.

    Unusual mortality of 16 birds has also been reported at DDA park Hastsal Village in the national capital, and samples have been sent to a testing lab.

    ALSO READ: Punjab issues advisory for surveillance of poultry farms, wetlands amid bird flu scare

    “So far, the disease has been confirmed from six states (Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Gujarat).

    “It is learnt that culling operations have been completed in both the affected districts of Kerala. The disinfection process is underway,” according to an official statement.

    States that are still unaffected by Avian Influenza (AI) have been requested to keep a vigil on any unusual mortality among birds and to report immediately so that necessary measures are taken in the fastest possible time, it added.

    ALSO READ: Bird flu – Over 69,000 birds culled in Kerala’s Alappuzha, Kottayam

    Central teams have been deployed to visit the affected states of Kerala, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh for monitoring and for epidemiological investigation.

    The government said that in Haryana, there has been confirmation of Avian Influenza positive samples from ICAR-NIHSAD in poultry (two poultry farms) of the Panchkula district.

    Positive samples have also been reported in migratory birds in the Junagadh district, Gujarat, and in crows in Sawai Madhopur, Pali, Jaisalmer and Mohar districts of Rajasthan.

    ALSO READ: Bird flu – Madhya Pradesh govt bans chicken trade with some southern states

    Therefore, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has suggested the affected states to contain the disease as per the Action Plan on Avian Influenza.

    Over 1.60 lakh birds of five poultry farms in Haryana’s Panchkula district are set to be culled as some poultry samples there have tested positive for the avian flu, Agriculture minister J P Dalal said on Friday.

    The employees of these poultry farms too would be examined by the health department, Dalal further said, adding they would also be given anti-viral medicines.

    ALSO READ: Government confirms bird flu cases in Rajasthan, Kerala, Himachal and MP

    Notably, over four lakh poultry birds died at some farms in Haryana’s Panchkula district over the past several days.

    Fresh cases of birds death were reported in parts of Rajasthan, taking the tally to 2,166.

    The avian influenza subtype H5N8 has been detected in 11 districts of the state, including state capital.

    As per Animal Husbandry Department, 329 deaths of birds, including 223 crows, 11 peacocks, 55 pigeons and 40 others were reported in the state today.

    Around 50 birds, mostly crows, have died in the national capital over the last three to four days amid a bird flu scare, officials said.

    “We received information about the death of crows in Dwarka and Mayur Vihar Phase 3 and of a few wild birds in Hastsal in West Delhi. However, it is yet to be ascertained if bird flu infection is the reason,” Dr. Rakesh Singh from the animal husbandry unit of the Development Department said.

    Around 50 birds have died in these areas over the last three to four days, he said.

    Amid a bird flue scare, shops selling poultry meat in the national capital have recorded have recorded 20-25 per cent dip in sales of chicken over the last few weeks.

    Four crows were found dead in Chhattisgarh’s Balod district, officials said.

    Samples of three of them were sent for laboratory testing to ascertain the cause of death, they said.

    The district administration has alerted people associated with backyard and commercial poultry to report immediately to the nearest veterinary centre if they witness unexplained death in birds, the officials said.

    The death of four crows was reported from Pondi village, located around 13 km away from Balod town, in the last two days, Collector Janmejay Mahobe said.

    The cause of their deaths was not immediately known and their samples have been sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal, for testing to check if they died due to bird flu, he said.

    Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said the state government is fully alert to deal with bird flu and there is monitoring of the areas around Pog Dam where over 3,400 birds have died so far.

    He chaired a review meeting for bird flu preparedness and said that the district administration, animal husbandry and wildlife departments should work to prevent the spread its spread.

    “So far, 3,410 migratory birds have died due to bird flu in Pong Dam area of Kangra district and these birds are being buried with full protocol so that there is no risk of infection at any stage,” he said.

    The chief minister said 65 teams of the Animal Husbandry Department and the Wildlife Department are monitoring the areas around Pong Dam.

    Gujarat recorded its first confirmed cases of bird flu infection after samples of two dead birds from Junagadh district tested positive, an official said.

    The two birds, lapwings, had been rescued on January 3 from an area near Kharo Dam in Manavadar tehsil of the district, but they later died due to illness, said Dr D D Panera, Deputy Director, Animal Husbandry division, Junagadh.

    The Punjab government banned import of poultry birds from other states with immediate effect till January 15.

  • Punjab bans import of poultry items

    By PTI
    CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government on Friday banned the import of poultry birds from other states with immediate effect till January 15.

    “The government of Punjab imposes complete ban on import of live birds, including poultry and unprocessed poultry meat, for any purpose into the state of Punjab,” the order issued by the state Animal Husbandry Department stated.

    ALSO READ: Bird flu – Madhya Pradesh govt bans chicken trade with some southern states

    The decision will be reviewed based on the evolving situation, it said.

    The state government also declared the whole state a ‘controlled area’ in view of the outbreak of avian influenza in the neighbouring states, an official release said.

    Additional Chief Secretary V K Janjua has said both the decisions were taken in consultation with Animal Husbandry Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa.

  • Bird flu outbreak: Centre asks all states to be prepared for any eventuality

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Centre on Thursday said bird flu has been confirmed only in Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh so far, but all states should be prepared for any eventuality.

    States have been told to ensure sufficient stock of PPE kits and accessories required for culling operations.

    They have also been asked to create awareness among public that it is safe to consume poultry products after following boiling/cooking procedures.

    ALSO READ: Bird flu outbreak – Central team takes stock of situation in Kerala

    The Secretary in the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying held a meeting with the states to understand the status of the outbreak of avian influenza (bird flu) and to suggest measures for control, containment and prevention of spread of the disease, an official statement said.

    An unusual mortality of poultry, crows, migratory birds has been reported from Kerala, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.

    “So far, the disease has been confirmed only from four states (Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh). Culling operations are underway in the affected districts of Kerala,” the statement said.

    ALSO READ: Government confirms bird flu cases in Rajasthan, Kerala, Himachal and MP

    In the meeting, it was emphasized that besides increasing surveillance around water bodies, live bird markets, zoos, poultry farms, etc. proper disposal of carcass and strengthening of biosecurity in poultry farms should be ensured.

    “States were requested to be prepared for any eventuality of avian influenza and were requested to ensure sufficient stock of PPE kits and accessories required for culling operations,” the statement said.

    Besides ensuring collection of representative samples and timely submission to the designated laboratories (RDDLs/CDDL/ICAR-NIHSAD), the Centre has asked state animal husbandry departments to ensure effective communication and coordination with health authorities for close vigilance on the outbreak and avoid any chances of jumping of the disease into humans.

    ALSO READ: Bird flu – Madhya Pradesh govt bans chicken trade with some southern states

    Effective coordination with the state forest departments was also emphasized for immediate reporting of any unusual mortalities in non-domestic birds in forest areas and around water bodies.

    The Centre has already issued advisories to the affected states regarding increasing and intensifying surveillance for unusual mortality of birds including wild/migratory birds.

    It has also established a central control room to strategize, co-ordinate and facilitate state governments with regard to outbreak management, disease control and containment.

    ALSO READ: Punjab issues advisory for surveillance of poultry farms, wetlands amid bird flu scare

    Moreover, two central teams have been deployed to visit the affected states of Kerala, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh for monitoring and for epidemiological investigation.

    That apart, the department along with Secretary, National Disaster Management Authority held a meeting with all states’ officials of the Health Department, Animal Husbandry Department and State Disaster Management authorities to take stock of preparedness and to advise on intensive surveillance in affected areas.

    “Awareness among poultry farmers and the general public (consumers of eggs and chicken) about the disease is of foremost importance. So states have been asked to quell consumer reactions, affected by rumours and increase awareness regarding safety of poultry or poultry products that were safe for consumption following boiling/cooking procedures,” the statement said.