India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)

Bird flu in city; admn restrict sale and purchase of poultry

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Editor 11 December, 2008 10:41:00
The killer bird flu is dispersing to some more areas that could force the authorities to expand the culling operation.

According to information, in the city also bird flu is being detected in Khanapara area. After being confirmed it, the Kamrup district administration has banned import and export of poultry. In the same order, sale and purchase of poultry and eggs have been banned.

Similar restrictions have been passed by Dibrugarh distirct administration in upper Assam in view of the outbreak of bird flu in the upper Assam district.

http://www.assamtimes.org/hot-news/2428.html

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)

<TABLE style="PADDING-LEFT: 10px" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="100%">Bird flu wreaks havoc in Assam, spreads to new areas</ARTTITLE>
11 Dec 2008, 0908 hrs IST, IANS
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</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=left><!-- google_ad_section_start -->GUWAHATI: The deadly bird flu virus is spreading to new areas in the northeastern state of Assam although over 200,000 poultry have been culled in the past two weeks, officials said on Thursday.

"Already about 200,000 poultry has been culled in the past two weeks since the outbreak of the bird flu virus," Parthajyoti Gogoi, a central health ministry official, said.

"It is a matter of worry with the virus now spreading to new areas and hence a maximum health alert has been sounded. Teams of doctors and paramedics are taking precautionary measures so that humans are not affected," Gogoi added.

"Bird flu has struck six of the 27 districts in Assam so far. An estimated 150,000 more poultry have been ordered to be killed," a veterinary official said.

The districts hit by bird flu are Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup (Rural), Dibrugarh, Nalbari, Barpeta and Chirang. Culling is being carried out in about 200 villages in the six districts.

The poultry targeted includes ducks and chickens. Authorities have imposed a ban on sale of poultry and poultry products in most parts of Assam after the bird flu outbreak.

"About 100 Rapid Response Teams comprising about seven personnel, including a veterinarian, are engaged in the culling drive. The operation is expected to continue for about a week to 10 days until the entire area is depopulated of the estimated 150,000 poultry," the veterinary official said.

The central health ministry confirmed the outbreak of bird flu after laboratory tests found strains of the deadly H5N1 avian influenza.

Assam's veterinary and animal husbandry department has sounded an alert and is maintaining strict surveillance on farms in the state, with veterinarians carrying out checks on all poultry. A central health ministry team is also assisting the local authorities in the culling operations.

The World Health Organization fears that the H5N1 strain could mutate into a form easily transmitted between humans and spark a pandemic.

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[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)

Bird flu spreads further in Assam districts




Tags: Assam , Guwahati , Bird flu


<SUP>Published: Thu, 11 Dec 2008 at 13:13 IST</SUP>

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<SCRIPT type=text/javascript> var newscripts=new virtualpaginate("virtualpage", 1, "p") //Let script know you're using "p" tags as separator (instead of default "div") newscripts.buildpagination("scriptspaginate") </SCRIPT>Guwahati, Dec 11: Bird flu has further spread to new areas of Assam with Dibrugarh, Goalpara and Bongaigaon districts coming under its grip.

Cases of bird flu virus attack on poultry was detected in the municipal ward number six of Dibrugarh town, about 400 km from Hajo near Guwahati.

The virus of the dreaded avain influenza was first detected in Hajo of lower Assam's Kamrup (Rural) district early this month.

Later the virus was also found at state Veterinary Department-run Khanapara Central Seed Rearing Farm of the Veterinary Department here, Nilibari village of Chirang district and Jalah village of Kamrup (Rural) district. The virus has also spread to Nalbari, Barpeta and Baksa districts, sources said.

Meanwhile, prohibitory orders banning sale, purchase of poultry and eggs either cooked or raw has been imposed in Guwahati and Kamrup (Metro) district which comprises Guwahati and adjoining areas.

Culling of poultry, ducks and other birds has been continuing in the affected districts with over 1.5 lakh birds been killed so far. Mopping up and sprinkling of disinfectants have been continuing, sources said.

Migratory birds and movement of infected birds may have caused the rapid spread of the disease, sources added.

http://www.samaylive.com/news/bird-flu-spreads-further-in-assam-districts/601116.html

[Giuseppe]

Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)

INDIA: AVIAN INFLUENZA H5N1 POULTRY EPIZOOTICS IN ASSAM, UPDATE (12/11/2008) [GOVT OF INDIA]

Original PDF document available at LINK



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[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)

Bird flu spreads rapidly in Assam; fears of human infection

Guwahati, Dec 11 : Bird flu virus has spread with alarming rapidity across Assam to reach upper Assam?s Dibrugarh district within 15 days after the virus was confirmed in lower Assam districts even as fears of human infection were aired by the state government.


The dreaded avian was yesterday confirmed in Khanapara Central Seed Rearing Farm of the Veterinary department here, Dibrugarh municipality area and Sidli block of Chirang district, with the virus now confirmed in six districts.

The H5N1 virus was first detected in Hajo area of Kamrup (rural) district in last week of November and it has since spread across Kamrup, rural as well as metro, districts, Nalbari, Barpeta, Chirang and Dibrugarh districts.

Culling operations were on in full swing, state Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sharma informed, with over 3 lakh poultry targeted to be culled, with the figure to go up after the outbreak in Khanapara, Dibrugarh and Chirang yesterday.

Close to 2.5 lakh poultry has been culled so far, with rapid response teams deputed for all affected areas and government monitoring the situation on a daily basis.

Ban on sale and movement of poultry and poultry-related products from affected areas has been imposed and all district administrations were asked to keel strict vigil, Dr Sharma said.

Fears of human infection has strengthened with the rapid spread of the virus and the government was going for a massive publicity drive, appealing the farmers to hand over their poultry for culling in all affected areas as well as urging people across the state to be alert for Upper Respiratory Infection syndromes, the main symptom of bird flu infection in humans.

The Health department is not completely equipped to handle a massive outbreak of the virus in humans.

If humans gets contaminated, it would be a worst disaster than floods or blasts, the Health minister said.

He said Tamilflu capsules were being stocked, but only about 50 per cent infected patients respond to the treatment.

Prevention is the best possible cure and we appeal for cooperation, he added.

Dr Sharma said several people with URI were examined in the affected areas but no cases of human contamination were detected.

http://www.newkerala.com/topstory-fullnews-59147.html

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)

Bird flu may pose major threat if birds not culled: Minister

Guwahati, Dec 11: With the avian flu spreading to nine districts in Assam, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Thursday warned that the disease could become a major disaster for human beings if poultry are not allowed to be culled.

<!--end of related-box-j-a-->The Minister said, "Active surveillance of the population was on in the nine affected districts."

As many as 82 cases with people having upper respiratory infection (URI) were reported since the outbreak of the disease early this month, but were not stated be be bird flu cases. URI is one of the symptoms of the disease," the Minister said.

"Though they were ruled out to be suffering from the disease, the symptoms are alarming and all the people with URI were being scrutinised," he added.

"People are taking the disease very casually. Chicken and ducks are kept away from culling without realising the implications of the seriousness of the disease," Sarma told reporters here today.

"We will not be able to handle if the disease spreads to humans from the birds on a full-fledged level. The way the disease is spreading, it will be a major disaster than bomb blasts or floods," Sarma asserted.

"The human disaster will be immense. The health department is ready to handle 100 to 200 cases. The department is very worried about human transmission of the disease as it is not 100 per cent equipped to handle a largescale outbreak as there are no isolation facilities here," he said.

Bureau Report

http://www.zeenews.com/states/2008-12-12/490103news.html

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12110804/H5N1_Assam_9.html

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)

Bird flu hits Guwahati, panic spreads
Guwahati | Thursday, Dec 11 2008 IST


Culling operations began this morning in the central dairy farm of Guwahati as it was officially confirmed last night that Bird Flu has hit Assam.
Additional District Magistrate of Kamrup C P Ramchairy informed that sale of poultry products had been banned and some trucks carrying eggs coming to Guwahati had been stopped.
Culling operation began from this morning triggering panic in the city. Government spokesman Himanta Biswa Sarma, however, assured the people that the situation was under control.
The dreaded Avian flu had spread to several new areas in the state.
According to official sources, the virus had been found in the poultry populations of Municipal Ward Number six of Dibrugarh, Jalah village of Bejera area in Kamrup district, Khanapara Central Seed Rearing Farm here of the Veterinary Department and Nalbari village of Chirang district.
The Kamrup (Metro) district administration today prohibited the movement, sale, purchase and transportation of poultry and all types of poultry products, either in cooked or raw form within the district area.
But sale has been going on all over. Meanwhile, culling operations in the affected areas of Kamrup (Rural), Kamrup (Metro), Barpeta and Nalbari districts were on, while in the Hajo revenue circle area of Kamrup district, disinfection operations were on.
Asked for their observation on the rapid spread of the disease, experts here suspected that migratory birds might have spread the virus and in cases of the sites where wetlands are not located in the adjacent areas, the virus might have spread from the birds transported from the affected areas.

-- (UNI) -- 11CA11.xml

http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20081211/1126111.html

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)

Bird flu could spread to humans in Assam, warns health minister
December 11th, 2008 - 9:22 pm ICT by IANS -
Guwahati, Dec 11 (IANS) The Assam health department Thursday expressed serious fears about strains of the deadly bird flu virus spreading to humans and sparking a pandemic in the northeastern state.?We are really worried about the bird flu virus spreading to humans as the strains transmit rapidly. We don?t know for sure if at all our health department would be able to cope if such a thing happens,? Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told journalists.
?We want the people of Assam to cooperate with the veterinary department so that the culling operations are carried out properly. Otherwise, we might face a disaster,? he said.
The bird flu virus has spread across six Assam districts and authorities have claimed it has assumed an epidemic proportion.
More than 250,000 poultry birds have been culled in the past two weeks in Assam.
?Bird flu has struck six of the 27 districts in Assam so far with an estimated 150,000 more poultry ordered to be killed,? a senior veterinary official said.
The districts hit by bird flu are Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup (Rural), Dibrugarh, Nalbari, Barpeta, and Chirang.
The poultry targeted includes ducks and chickens. Authorities have imposed a ban on sale of poultry and poultry products in most parts of Assam after the bird flu outbreak.
Culling is being carried out in 200 villages in the six Assam districts. About 400 Rapid Response Teams, each comprising about seven personnel, including a veterinarian, are engaged in the culling drive, which is expected to continue for about a week to 10 days until the entire area is cleaned of the estimated 150,000 poultry left, the official said.
?It is a matter of worry with the virus now spreading to new areas and hence a maximum health alert was sounded with teams of doctors and paramedics taking precautionary measures so that humans are not affected,? Parthajyoti Gogoi, central health ministry official, said.
The Indian health ministry confirmed outbreak of bird flu after laboratory tests found strains of the deadly H5N1 avian influenza.
Assam?s veterinary and animal husbandry department has sounded an alert and is maintaining strict surveillance on farms in the state with veterinarians carrying out checks on all poultry. A central health ministry team is also assisting the local authorities in the culling operations.
The World Health Organization fears that the H5N1 strain could mutate into a form easily transmitted between humans and spark a deadly pandemic.

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/bird-flu-could-spread-to-humans-in-assam-warns-health-minister_100129887.html

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)

Bird Flu Wreaks Havoc In Assam, Spreads To New Areas
Last Updated: 11-12-2008 13:51:03 IST

The deadly H5N1 avian influenza virus which causes bird flu is spreading to new areas of Assam. Official report says that in the past two weeks over 200,000 poultry have been culled in various affected areas of the state but the disease is griping up new areas, every day. Interacting with the media, Parthajyoti Gogoi, a central health ministry official said that maximum health alert has been sounded in the state following the unstoppable spread of bird flu virus.

According to Gogoi, teams of doctors and paramedics in the state are taking precautionary measures so that humans do not get affected by bird flu virus. Reports confirm that bird flu has engulfed a total of six districts of Assam. A state veterinary official revealed that about 150,000 more poultry would be culled in coming days. The districts of Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup (Rural), Dibrugarh, Nalbari, Barpeta and Chirang were hit by bird flu. Culling is being carried out in about 200 villages in the six districts.

After the outbreak of bird flu in Assam, the state authorities have imposed a ban on sale of poultry and poultry products in most parts of the state. Apart from it, bird flu menace has injected a sense of fear in the minds of the people of Assam. Informing about the culling of poultry, the state veterinary official said that about 100 rapid response teams have been given the responsibility to flush out the affected poultry of the region.

The outbreak of bird flu was declared after laboratory tests found strains of the deadly H5N1 avian influenza. The World Health Organization fears that the H5N1 strain could mutate into a form easily transmitted between humans and spark a pandemic. The state authority has instructed veterinary and animal husbandry department to maintain strict surveillance on farms, with veterinarians carrying out checks on all poultry.

http://www.india-server.com/news/bird-flu-wreaks-havoc-in-assam-spreads-5101.html

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)

<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100&#37;"><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%" colSpan=2 align=left>'Bird Flu Can Get Bigger Than Bomb Blasts'

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Guwahati, December 11 (PTI)
With the avian flu spreading to nine districts in Assam, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday warned that the disease could become a major disaster for human beings if poultry are not allowed to be culled.
The minister said, "active surveillance of the population was on in the nine affected districts."
As many as 82 cases with people having upper respiratory infection (URI) were reported since the outbreak of the disease early this month, but were not stated be be bird flu cases. URI is one of the symptoms of the disease," the minister said.
"Though they were ruled out to be suffering from the disease, the symptoms are alarming and all the people with URI were being scrutinised," he added.
"People are taking the disease very casually. Chicken and ducks are kept away from culling without realising the implications of the seriousness of the disease," Sarma told reporters.
"We will not be able to handle if the disease spreads to humans from the birds on a full-fledged level. The way the disease is spreading, it will be a major disaster than bomb blasts or floods," Sarma asserted.
"The human disaster will be immense. The health department is ready to handle 100 to 200 cases. The department is very worried about human transmission of the disease as it is not 100 per cent equipped to handle a largescale outbreak as there are no isolation facilities here," he said.
"Therefore, people and poultry farmers, who may also be affected, should cooperate to prevent spread of the disease by allowing the culling of their birds," he appealed.

Though Tamiflu was the prescribed medicine for bird flu treatment in humans, Sarma said, only 40 per cent to 50 per cent people responded to the treatment leaving the rest to be victims of the fatal disease.

The affected districts are Kamrup (Rural), Kamrup (Metro), including Guwahati, Barpeta, Nalbari, Chirang, Baksa, Dibrugarh, Goalpara and Bongaigaon.

The disease, starting from Hajo revenue circle in Kamrup (rural) district, about 20 km from here, on December 2, had spread to Guwahati in Kamrup (Metro) district, Nalbari, Barpeta, Chirang, Baksa, Bongaigaon and Goalpara districts in Lower Assam spreading to Dibrugarh district in Upper Assam.

The Department of Animal Husbandry had notified avian influenza in the districts where sale, purchase and movement of poultry were banned, the minister said.

During active surveillance of the population in the affected areas, Sarma said, the cases of URI with fever were reported, but no cases of influenza such as illness with history of contact with infected or dead poultry have been detected.

Regarding URI cases, he said, in worst affected Kamrup (rural) district 4 cases were reported in Hajo block, 14 cases in Rampur block, 2 in Azara/Rani block, besides 60 in Barpeta district and two in Nalbari district.

"Therefore, people and poultry farmers, who may also be affected, should cooperate to prevent spread of the disease by allowing the culling of their birds," he appealed.



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http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?gid=51&id=645215

[Giuseppe]

Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)

Avian Influenza - Situation in India: 11 December 2008 [WHO]

Avian Influenza - Situation in India

11 December 2008 ? India

Fresh outbreak of poultry AI in India

The Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries in the Agriculture Ministry has confirmed of a fresh outbreak of High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) in Barpeta, Nalbari and Kamrup districts in India?s north east state of Assam.

The High Security Animal Disease Laboratory of Bhopal confirmed the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1.

Local authorities have started culling within the five-km radius of the infected villages.

The situation is being monitored.

Between January and May this year, 42 incidents of bird flu were reported from West Bengal and Tripura.

For further information, please visit the following websites:
Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India www.dahd.nic.in
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India www.mohfw.nic.in
-

<cite cite="http://www.searo.who.int/en/Section10/Section1027/Section2095/Section2462_13929.asp">Avian Influenza - Situation in India: 11 December 2008</cite>

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)

Bird flu spreads its wings, affects nine Assam districts

Guwahati, Dec 11: With the avian influenza spreading to fresh areas, nine Assam districts are now bird flu affected and Health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday warned that it could become a major human disaster.

<!--end of related-box-j-a-->The affected districts were Kamrup (Rural), Kamrup (Metro), Barpeta, Nalbari, Chirang, Baksa, Dibrugarh, Goalpara and Bongaigaon, official sources said.

Sale of poultry and eggs, either cooked or raw, has been banned in Guwahati and Kamrup (Metro) district which comprises Guwahati and adjoining areas.

Culling of poultry, ducks and other birds has been continuing in the affected districts with over 1.5 lakh birds killed so far, the sources said.

"People are taking the disease very casually. Chicken and ducks are being kept away from culling without realising the seriousness of the disease," Sarma told reporters here.

"We will not be able to handle it, if the disease spreads to humans from the birds. The way the disease is spreading, it will be a greater disaster than bomb blasts or floods," Sarma said.

"The human disaster will be immense. The health department is very worried about human transmission of the disease as it is not 100 percent equipped to handle a largescale outbreak as there are no isolation facilities here," he said.

The disease, starting from Hajo revenue circle in Kamrup(Rural) district about 20 km from here on December 2 and spread to Guwahati in Kamrup (Metro) district, Nalbari, Barpeta, Chirang, Baksa, Bongaigaon and Goalpara districts in Lower Assam spreading to Dibrugarh district in Upper Assam.

Meghalaya prepares for culling

Taking in view that the bird flu is spreading to new areas in neighbouring Assam, Meghalaya banned the entry of poultry and poultry products from Assam and Bangladesh.

"The ban comes into force with immediate effect. However, the ban does not imply to the sale of poultry and poultry products produced within the state," a Veterinary Department release here said.

A senior Veterinary official told media that they were preparing to cull birds and poultry in the bordering areas with Assam as soon as the Centre asks to do so.

"Normally culling operations are done in a radius of 3 km of the place of disease outbreak. With the bird flu outbreak in Assam's Khanapara, lying along Assam-Meghalaya border, it is likely that culling would be done in the bordering areas of Meghalaya too," he said.

Deputy Commissioner of Ri Bhoi district that borders Khanapara in Assam's Kamrup (Rural) district is on a visit to the bordering areas along with a team of Veterinary officials to take stock of the situation.

The government has set up control rooms in all districts to facilitate information to the poultry farms.

Veterinary officials have been regularly adopting measures to prevent spread of the disease into the state and Deputy Commissioners of all the districts have been alerted, sources said.

Meghalaya already has in place 150 rapid response teams along with 2,170 personnel protective equipment that were constituted last year after the outbreak of avian flu in West Bengal.

http://www.zeenews.com/states/2008-12-11/490211news.html

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)

Front Page <!-- prneml ctrl begins --> <!-- prneml ctrl ends -->

Bird flu spreads to new areas in Assam

Sushanta Talukdar







Guwahati: The Assam government is taking urgent steps to cull birds in the areas affected by bird flu.
Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) of the Veterinary Department on Thursday began culling operations in the Khanapara area. The process will begin in upper Assam?s Dibrugarh district and lower Assam?s Chirang district on Friday, after bird flu was detected in these new areas.
The virus has already spread to six districts ? Kamrup, Nalbari, Barpeta, Kamrup (Metropolitan), Dibrugarh and Chirang. Till Thursday over 2.5 lakh birds have been culled.
Veterinary Director Ashwini Kataki told The Hindu that 73 RRTs were being engaged in culling operations. The State had a total of 426 RRTs.
Mr. Kataki said the Hajo area of Kamrup district ? where the virus was first detected in tests conducted by the Bhopal-based High Security Animal Disease Laboratory ? would be completely depopulated of poultry birds by Friday. The culling in Barpeta and Nalbari districts was also expected to be completed in another two days.
The authorities in all the six affected districts have banned the sale and movement of chicken, ducks or any poultry product. However, the ban is yet to be fully enforced as poultry products brought from other districts or outside the State can still be seen in markets.
Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma appealed to the people to cooperate in culling operations.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/12/stories/2008121255171200.htm

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)

Respiratory tract infection cases coming in
</B>Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, Dec 11 ? ?The State Health Department is not fully equipped to meet a situation if the bird flu transmits to humans in a full-fledged manner. If it turns to be a disaster, we don?t have the facilities to face it,? said Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at a press conference here this morning.

?Once the disease transmits to humans in a full-fledged manner, then there will be a major disaster,? he warned and made an appeal to the poultry farmers not to take the phenomenon casually, expressing concern over the indifference shown to it by some farmers. The poultry farmers should cooperate with the Veterinary Department in tackling the situation, he urged.

Apprising the newspersons that reports of cases of upper respiratory tract infections (URI) have started coming, the Minister said it was a matter of concern. The URI cases have come to the knowledge of the authorities due to the surveillance undertaken by the ASHA and Health Department workers.

However, the Minister said, Central Government teams of doctors comprising physician, epidemiologist, microbiologists and public health experts, under the Regional Director of Health and Family Welfare, are stationed in the affected areas of Hajo, Rani and Rampur Development Blocks in Kamrup District and affected areas of Barpeta and Nalbari Districts. Teams for other affected areas are being readied. The situation is being monitored on a daily basis, he said.

Isolation facilities have been strengthened to admit and treat suspected cases and 10,000 capsules of Tamiflu, 6,000 surgical masks, 600 personal protective equipment, 200 N-95 masks and two ventilators have been supplied to the State by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, while additional logistics are also being mobilised, said the Minister.

The communication materials developed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the UNICEF in Assamese for both the print and electronic media have been sipplied to the State Government, he said.

Giving details of the URI cases found so far in the State, the Minister said that in the Hajo Development Block of Kamrup District, a human population of 23,473 in the 0-3 km radius area around the affected area, spreading over 25 villages, is under active surveillance. Of which, a population of 21,412 was covered under surveillance on December 10. In the 3-10 km radius area, out of 1,08,416 people, 32,929 have been covered.

Four cases of URI with fever were reported from the area, but no case of influenza like illness with history of contact with infected poultry has been detected in them. Moreover, five cases of URI have been identified in the out patient department of the identified hospital, but none of them has any history of exposure to sick or dead poultry, said the Minister.

In the Rampur Development Block of the district, a population of 39,830 has been covered in the 0-3 km radius area by active surveillance. A total of 30 cases of URI and fever have been detected. None of these has, however, a history of exposure to infected poultry. In the 3-10 km radius area, of the affected area of the block, active surveillance has covered a population of 18,916, he said.

While conducting the passive surveillance in the health facilities, 14 cases of URI and fever have been detected and none of them has any history of exposure to infected poultry, said the Minister.

In the Azara Development Block of Kamrup District, out of a total population 8,572 in 24 villages in the 0-3 km radius, a population of 7,222 has been covered. In the 3-10 km radius area around the affected part of the block, a population of 5,608 has been covered by the surveillance programme, the Minister said.

Two cases of fever and URI are identified in the 0-3 km radius area around the affected part of the block. In the 3-10 km radius area, six cases of fever with URI and fever have been identified. But none of them has any history of exposure to sick or dead birds. The identified hospitals of the block, have reported a total of 23 fever and URI cases. But none of them has any history of exposure to infected poultry.

In Barpeta District, out of the total population of 33,934 in the 0-3 km radius area from the affected area, a population of 6,032 have been surveyed and the surveillance in the 3-10 km radius area from the affected area is being initiated. So far, 60 cases of fever with URI have been detected in the 0-3 km radius area. None of them has, however, any history of exposure to the infected birds, the Minister said.

In Nalbari district, the surveillance programme has covered a population of 7,761, out of the total population of 34,627 in the 0-3 km radius area. One case of fever with URI has been detected in the 0-3 km radius area. However, the patient has no history of exposure to diseased birds, said the Minister.

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