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

[Shiloh]

Re: India: Assam, a new confirmed h5n1 poultry epizootic (11/26/2008) [rsoe edis]

Source: http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/...d=dec0608/at07

Bird flu detected in Barpeta, Nalbari
Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, Dec 5 ? The avian flu virus has now been detected in the diseased poultry populations in pockets of Barpeta and Nalbari districts too. Earlier, the virus was detected among the diseased poultry populations in three pockets of Kamrup and Kamrup (Metro) districts. Significantly, the detection of the virus among the poultry populations of Barpeta and Nalbari came within a fortnight of its detection among the poultry populations of both the Kamrup districts.

The Bhopal-based High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL) confirmed last evening the presence of avian flu virus among the diseased poultry populations of Katajhar village under Gobardhana Development Block in Barpeta district and of Kathalbari village under Pachim Nalbari Development Block in Nalbari district, said official sources here.

Sources said that efforts are on to launch the culling operations in both Barpeta and Nalbari districts tomorrow. In Barpeta district, ten Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) are already there, while 14 RRTs in Nalbari district are there to conduct the culling operations.

The culling operations in Barpeta district is to cover around 23 villages and to eliminate around 30, 000 birds, while the number of villages being covered in Nalbari district under the operations stands to be around 16. Around 15,000 birds in Nalbari district are estimated to be killed during the culling operations, said the sources.

From the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department headquarters here supervisory teams have been sent to both the districts to oversee the culling and successive operations. The Veterinary Department has also sent disinfectants, personnel protective units and masks to the districts, said the sources.

Meanwhile, bird flu-related surveillance is going on all over the State and the Veterinary Department is in constant touch with the Deputy Commissioners and Block Development Officers, said the sources.

It needs mention here that culling operations in Rampur and Rani Development Blocks of Kamrup (Metro) district is on to create a bird-free zone of 3 km around each of Sarpara and Patgaon villages of the two development blocks.

Our Correspondents add:

Nalbari: Kathalbari village is located near Chamata and it is under Pachim Nalbari Revenue Circle. In the 3 km radius proposed for elimination of poultry to create a bird-free zone, eight villages are located and the total number of birds proposed to be killed within this zone is 15,123, said Deputy Commissioner of Nalbari GD Tripathi here today.

The Deputy Commissioner told this correspondent that restriction has been imposed on the movement, sale etc of poultry and poultry items in and outside an area of 10 km radius from Kathalbari with effect from today.

He also informed that altogether 19 RRTs have been kept ready for the culling operations proposed to be launched from tomorrow.

Kalgachia: Prevalence of bird flu virus among the poultry populations of Katajhar and Dumuni has been confirmed by official sources here. Though the villages were located in the undivided Barpeta district, now they are located in Baksa district after the demarcation of the BTAD boundary.

The news of the detection of bird flu virus in the diseased poultry populations of the two villages has created a sort of panic among the common people here.

In the meantime, 62 villages under Palasbari revenue circle have also been brought under the purview of restrictions imposed on movement, sale etc of poultry and poultry products, an official release stated.

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, a new confirmed h5n1 poultry epizootic (11/26/2008) [rsoe edis]

Bird flu spreads to two more districts


Special Correspondent



<TABLE width="100%" bgColor=#d0f0ff border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>About 60 RRTs are carrying out culling of ducks and chickens in Assam </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>



<HR color=lightblue noShade>More than 50,000 birds have been culled in Kamrup district so far
Palashbari and Hajo circles of Kamrup district are the worst-affected
<HR color=lightblue noShade>

GUWAHATI: Bird Flu virus has spread to two more districts ? Barpeta and Nalbari ? in lower Assam prompting the State Veterinary department to rush Rapid Response Teams (RRT)s to these two districts for beginning culling operations from Saturday.
About 60 RRTs have been carrying out culling of ducks and chickens in lower Assam?s Kamrup and where the disease broke out first. Later, the outbreak of the disease was reported in Kamrup (Metrpolitan) district.
State Veterinary Director Aswini Kataki told The Hindu that the department on Thursday night received a communiqu? from the Central government that the Bhopal-based High Security Animal Disease Laboratory tests had confirmed strains of the deadly H5N1 avian influenza in bird samples from Barpeta and Nalbari too.
Culling operations


The state government has ordered culling operations within 3-km radius of the epicentres of the disease in the two districts.
The epicentres in Barpeta district are Katajhar village under the Gobardhana block and while the epicentre in Nalbari district is Katla village under Pachim Nalbari Block of the district.
An estimated 30,000 birds are to be culled in Gobardhana and estimated 15,000 birds within three-km radius of the Katla village in Nalbari district.
Asked about the preparedness of the department to fight spread of the disease to other districts, Mr. Kataki said that the department had 432 fully equipped RRTs ready for deployment. Each RRT comprises seven personnel, including one veterinarian.
The official said more than 50,000 birds had been culled in Kamrup district so far. Palashbari and Hajo circles of the district were worst affected.
An estimated 2.5 lakh birds would be culled in Kamrup district.
In Kamrup (metropolitan) H5N1 avian influenza were confirmed in bird samples from Patgaon, following which culling began in 11 villages within three-km radius from this epicentre.
The district administrations concerned had already clamped ban on sale and movement of ducks, chickens and eggs from the affected areas.
Ban on sale


Kamrup Deputy Commissioner Ramesh Chand Jain had earlier clamped a ban on sale and movement of ducks, chickens and eggs in the entire district.
However, on Friday he issued a fresh directive limiting the ban only to 62 villages of the Palashbari revenue circle.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/06/stories/2008120656541300.htm

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, a new confirmed h5n1 poultry epizootic (11/26/2008) [rsoe edis]

Map of Nalbari district

http://nalbari.nic.in/adm.htm

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, a new confirmed h5n1 poultry epizootic (11/26/2008) [rsoe edis]

Commentary at

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12050803/H5N1_Assam_5.html

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, a new confirmed h5n1 poultry epizootic (11/26/2008) [rsoe edis]

Bird flu spreads to two more districts in Assam
Font Size Samudra Gupta Kashyap
Posted: Dec 06, 2008 at 0048 hrs IST
Guwahati: Nine days after bird flu was first reported from Hajo in Kamrup (rural) district of Lower Assam, the authorities on Friday confirmed that the killer avian disease had spread to Nalbari and Barpeta districts too, with Rapid Reaction Teams fanning out to the new areas to carry out culling operations.
Assam veterinary and animal husbandry director Dr Ashwini Kataky said tests carried out on samples had confirmed the outbreak of the disease from two villages, one each in Nalbari and Barpeta district.
?We got the confirmation late on Thursday evening, but Rapid Reaction Teams have already been dispatched so that culling could be carried out on Saturday,? he added.
It was on November 27 that the authorities first detected the dreaded disease at Rajabazar village in Kamrup (rural) district, following which the authorities have culled as many as 20,000 birds in a 3-km radius area there.
Four days later, bird flu was detected and confirmed at Patgaon village under Rani block as well as at Sarpara village under Rampur block, both again in Kamrup district.

The latest confirmation has come from two clusters of villages, one Gobardhana block in Barpeta district and the other in Paschim Nalbari block. Rapid Reaction Teams had been already dispatched, the veterinary director said, adding about 50,000 birds were expected to be culled in these two clusters in the next two days.
The Assam Government, meanwhile, has sounded a general alert against the spread of bird flu across the state, and inter-district transportation of poultry has been banned.
?There have been some reports of people trying to shift the birds from infected areas to other places with the intention of disposing them of in the markets instead of taking Government compensation,? said Dr Kataky.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Bird-flu-spreads-to-two-more-districts-in-Assam/394832

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: India: Assam, a new confirmed h5n1 poultry epizootic (11/26/2008) [rsoe edis]

Commentray at

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12...1_Assam_5.html

Commentary

H5N1 Spreads to Five Districts in Assam India
Recombinomics Commentary 22:01
December 5, 2008

The Bhopal-based High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL) confirmed last evening the presence of avian flu virus among the diseased poultry populations of Katajhar village under Gobardhana Development Block in Barpeta district and of Kathalbari village under Pachim Nalbari Development Block in Nalbari district, said official sources here.

Prevalence of bird flu virus among the poultry populations of Katajhar and Dumuni has been confirmed by official sources here. Though the villages were located in the undivided Barpeta district, now they are located in Baksa district after the demarcation of the BTAD boundary.

The above comments indicate H5N1 has now spread to five districts in Assam. The initial outbreak was in the Hajo revenue circle of the Kamrup rural district. New outbreaks in the outskirts of Gauhati in or near the Palasbari revenue district moved the H5N1 into the Kamrup metro district. These outbreaks were followed by reports of dead poultry in the Barpeta district. The above confirmations indicate H5N1 has been confirmed in Barpeta as well as adjacent districts of Nalbari and Baksa (see updated map).

The rapid expansion of H5N1 from one district to five has caused panic in Assam because more outbreaks are expected as the temperature drops. Last season, poultry began to die in West Bengal in mid December, but the first OIE report was not filed until January 15. This season the first OIE report was filed at the end of November and followed the November 20 filing by Bangladesh. Last season record numbers of outbreaks were reported in West Bengal and Bangladesh. The early start this season raises concerns that similar levels will be seen this season.

Although only one human case was confirmed in Bangladesh last season, the number of H5N1 last season as well as this season was or will be markedly higher.


.

[Sally Furniss]

Re: India: Assam, a new confirmed h5n1 poultry epizootic (11/26/2008) [rsoe edis]

Bird flu confirmed in Assam
Bs correspondent / Bhopal, December 06, 2008

Bhopal-based High Security Animal Disease Laboratory, and Nalbari districts of Assam Badzpata bird flu in samples from the H 5 N 1 Avihaanw is to be confirmed.

Kamrup district, with three of the affected areas of the samples received from three packets in Avihaanw was to be confirmed. The laboratory also confirmed that other parts of the country received from Nmunon not in the virus was found.

Laboratory Director S. C. Dube told the Business Standard, "Nalbari district and Badzpata received from the samples of bird flu has been confirmed to be Avihaanw. Dadf chicken slaughtered according to the initial plan to quickly process From the start should be made soon so that Avihaanw not spread to other areas. "

http://hindi.business-standard.com/hin/storypage.php?autono=10928

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, a new confirmed h5n1 poultry epizootic (11/26/2008) [rsoe edis]

Bird flu spreads to four Assam districts
Guwahati, Dec 6 : Lower Assam has been gripped by bird flu scare with the virus confirmed in Kamrup (rural and metro) districts, Nalbari as well as Barpeta districts with close to two lakh birds targeted to be culled.

Initially detected in Hajo area of Kamrup (rural) district in the last week of November, the virus had now spread in poultry of Nalbari and Barpeta districts, informed state Veterinary department director Dr A K Kotoky.
He stated that all precautious were being taken to ensure that the disease did not spread to new areas and no unnatural death of poultry had been reported so far from any other districts.
All districts had already been put on high alert after the confirmation of the first outbreak almost ten days ago.
The present bird flu outbreak was reported to be the worst outbreak in the country, after the disease was first detected in Maharashtra in 2006.
The gradual dip in temperature had further augmented the fear of wider spread of bird flu as the virus was known to spread faster in low temperatures and also increase the possibility of human infection.
Dr Kotoky informed that one lakh birds had been culled so far, with about 70,000 more from commercial farms and private raisers targeted to be mopped.
Bird flu had already reached the doorsteps of Guwahati, with culling operations on at Patgaon in Rani area, near the Guwahati airport, leading to a dip in sale of chicken and duck in the city. Though the city limits had so far been declared safe and experts claiming that proper cooking kill the virus, people were abstaining from consuming poultry products.
With Id-Ul-Zohha on Tuesday next, both traders as well as followers of Islam were in quandary over chicken, which traditionally was one of the main cuisines on the table on that day.
The traders had also stocked for bumper sale on that day but now the bird flu outbreak had brought it under doubt.

http://www.newkerala.com/topstory-fullnews-57082.html

--- UNI

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, a new confirmed h5n1 poultry epizootic (11/26/2008) [rsoe edis]

Bird Flu Spreads To Barpeta, Nalbari In Assam
Submitted by Piyush Diwan on Sat, 12/06/2008 - 10:12. Featured Health Update TNM Assam
Bird Flu virus has spread to two more regions including Barpeta and Nalbari in lower Assam.
The fresh outbreak prompted the State Veterinary department to start the culling of thousands of chickens in these regions.
The samples, which were sent to laboratories in Bhopal, have tested positive for H5N1 avian influenza.
The State Government has ordered culling operations and Rapid Response Teams (RRT)s have already begun going from house-to-house asking the habitants to give away their poultry birds to them.
Mr. Mukul Das, a culling official said, ?Cases of bird flu were reported ten days back, but the laboratory has confirmed now. The epicentres have been confirmed. The bird flu operation has been started.?
Villagers like Montu Ali in Kamrup region were unwilling to hand over their chicks despite the culling officers making them understand the results of the virus spreading further.
Ali, a poultry farm owner said, ?They say that they will pay us Rs 20 per bird, but the market price is Rs 22 per bird. This is not justified; we depend on these farms for a livelihood. I dont know what to do. We are not even being given money; they are giving us receipts.?
The district administrations concerned had already imposed ban on sale and movement of poultry in and around Guwahati.
Moreover, the authorities stepped up precautionary measures against the spread of deadly bird flu after such avian influenza cases have been reported in these regions.
India has not reported any human infections so far, though the first outbreak in poultry was reported in 2006 in Maharashtra.

http://www.topnews.in/bird-flu-spreads-barpeta-nalbari-assam-296196

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, a new confirmed h5n1 poultry epizootic (11/26/2008) [rsoe edis]

Bird Flu spreads to Barpeta and Nalbari

• Saturday, December 6, 2008, 8:03
• Assam
• Add a comment

After Kamrup, deadly bird flu virus has spread to two more districts in Assam. The two new districts are Barpeta and Nalbari. After confirming the outbreak, the State Veterinary department has started a massive culling operation in these two districts of Assam.
The epicentres in Barpeta district are Katajhar village under the Gobardhana block and while the epicentre in Nalbari district is Katla village under Pachim Nalbari Block of the district. The state government has ordered culling operations within 3-km radius of the epicentres of the disease in the two districts and the Rapid Response Teams (RRT)s are now busy in culling more than 40,000 poultry birds.
Bird flu outbreak in the sate of Assam was first reported from Kamrup district. Palashbari and Hajo circles of the district were worst affected areas. According to official sources, more than 50,000 birds had been culled in Kamrup district so far.

http://www.assams.info/2008/12/bird-flu-spreads-to-barpeta-and-nalbari.html

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, a new confirmed h5n1 poultry epizootic (11/26/2008) [rsoe edis]

Jorhat ready to meet bird flu threat


JORHAT, Dec 5: Though no case of any bird flu has been reported here so far, the Jorhat district administration is taking all necessary precautions to tackle the possible outbreak of the dreaded disease. At an emergency meeting called by Jorhat Deputy Commissioner Ms LS Changsan at her office chamber on Thursday, the details for meeting any exigency in this respect were worked out.
The import of poultry and ducks from outside the district has been banned with immediate effect. As many as 10 rapid response teams have been formed to meet the threat posed by avian influenza. A 24-hour control room has been set up which is being manned by Dr RP Shyam (contact no. 9435358069) and Dr CK Sinha (contact no. 9435050847). Dr Shyam is the District Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Officer, while Dr Sinha is attached to the District Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department.
When contacted, the District Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Officer pointed out that blood serums and fluidal swabs of poultry and litter samples of migratory birds are being regularly sent for tests at the Khanapara-based North Eastern Region Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Dr Shyam said. About 100 samples are being sent every month since 2007, he added. If necessary, the samples are sent for further tests at the Bhopal-based High Security Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. However, none of the samples has tested positive for avian influenza, he stressed.
Dr Shyam, who is also the Joint Director of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Services for Upper Asom zone, maintained that 340 personnel have already received requisite training on tackling bird flu. ?We will hold awareness meetings at the block and gaon panchayat level and distribute informative leaflets regarding bird flu among poultry farmers through the block development officers,? he said.
There are around 80 to 90 commercial poultry farmers in the district though every rural household keeps domestic fowl.
On the other hand, veterinarian Dr Sinha stressed that the H5N1 virus, which causes avian influenza, may be carried by migratory birds which flock the region at this time of the year. He expressed concern that there are two unprotected important bird areas (IBAs) ? Jhanjimukh and Majuli ? within Jorhat district. It may be mentioned here that according to a survey carried out by the Mumbai-based Indian Bird Conservation Network, there are 26 IBAs in Asom. The total number of IBAs in the country stands at 112.
?We are enlisting the cooperation of local nature NGOs to collect the litter samples of migratory birds for conducting tests,? Dr Sinha said. The Forest Department, too, has been instructed to report any unusual deaths of wild birds in the forest reserve areas. Officials of Health and Veterinary Departments, police officers, BDOs, circle officers and magistrates had attended the meeting yesterday.

http://assamnews.wordpress.com/2008/12/06/

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, a new confirmed h5n1 poultry epizootic (11/26/2008) [rsoe edis]

<center>6013-INDIA-BIRD FLU</center>
MOD-DATE: 12/06/08 06:12:54
ASIA-DEC06-6013-INDIA-BIRD FLU
ASIA: STORY 6013

6013-INDIA-BIRD FLUKAMRUP, ASSAM, INDIADECEMBER 05, 2008 NATURAL WITH HINDI SPEECHDURATION:02:02

SOURCE:ANI

INTRO:
HEADLINE: Bird flu spreads to new areas in India's northeastern Assam.
TV AND WEB RESTRICTIONS~**NONE**~ Indian authorities begin culling thousands of chickens after fresh outbreakof bird flu.SHOWS: KAMRUP, ASSAM, INDIA (DECEMBER 05, 2008) (ANI - ACCESS ALL)1. GENERAL VIEW OF VILLAGE2. CHICKEN COUP3. CHICKENS4. VARIOUS OF CULLING OPERATION IN PROGRESS5. CHICKENS6. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) CULLING OFFICIAL, MUKUL DAS, SAYING: "Cases of bird flu were reported ten days back, but the laboratoryhas confirmed now. The epicentres have been confirmed and the bird fluoperation has been started."7. CULLING OFFICER HANDING OVER A SLIP OF TO PEOPLE8. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) POULTRY FARM OWNER, MONTU ALI, SAYING: "They say that they will pay us Rs 20 (0.40 U.S. dollars) per birdbut the market price is Rs 22 (0.44 USD) per bird. This is not justified, wedepend on these farms for a livelihood. I don't know what to do, it is such asuicidal situation. We are not even being given money, they are giving usreceipts. What do I do with these papers?"9. CULLING OFFICERS COMING OUT OF POULTRY FARM10. CULLING OFFICERS WALKING TOWARDS ANOTHER POULTRY FARMSTORY: Indian authorities began culling thousands of chickens on Friday(December 05) after a fresh outbreak of bird flu was detected in northeasternAssam. Reports said the virus has spread to districts of Barpeta andNalbarifrom Hajo of Kamrup district where it was first found. Samples were sent to laboratories in central Bhopal and tested positivefor H5N1 avian influenza. The state government ordered culling operations and officers begangoing from house to house urging villagers to hand over their poultry. "Cases of bird flu were reported ten days back, but the laboratoryhas confirmed now. The epicentres have been confirmed and the bird fluoperation has been started," said Mukul Das, a culling official. Villagers were reluctant to give away their poultry. "They say that they will pay us Rs 20 (0.40 U.S. dollars) per birdbut the market price is Rs 22 (0.44 USD) per bird. This is not justified, wedepend on these farms for a livelihood. I don't know what to do, it is such asuicidal situation. We are not even being given money, they are giving usreceipts. What do I do with these papers?," said Montu Ali, a poultryfarm owner. Sale and movement of poultry in and around Guwahati was prohibited andprecautionary measures stepped up in other parts of the state. India has not reported any human infections. The first poultry outbreak in India was detected in Maharashtra in2006.

http://rtv.rtrlondon.co.uk/2008-12-06/14225e54.html

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, a new confirmed h5n1 poultry epizootic (11/26/2008) [rsoe edis]

Video

http://au.video.yahoo.com/watch/4066472/10981179

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, a new confirmed h5n1 poultry epizootic (11/26/2008) [rsoe edis]

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12060802/H5N1_Assam_Spread_Concern.html

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, a new confirmed h5n1 poultry epizootic (11/26/2008) [rsoe edis]

Darrang issues ban on poultry
Correspondent
MANGALDOI, Dec 5 ? In exercise of his powers under Section 144 CrPC, the DC of Darrang, Dhruba Hazarika has prohibited transport and movement of poultry and all types of poultry products, including meat, eggs, poultry feed in Darrang district.

The press release by Darrang DIPRO also stated that the prohibition includes hotels and restaurants where the sale of poultry products is banned from December 1. Violation of this order will lead to prosecution under Section 188 IPC.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/...dec0608/State7