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

[HenryN]

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

One lakh poultry culled in State
Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, Dec 6 – Around 1,00,000 poultry have been eliminated at the three bird flu-affected areas of the State so far. However, the launch of culling operations in the bird flu affected Gobardhana Development Block and Pachim Nalbari Development Block areas of Barpeta and Nalbari districts respectively were deferred for tomorrow. Informing this, official sources here said that mopping operations were conducted yesterday in the Hajo Revenue Circle areas in a zone of 3 km around Thakuria Chuba of Rajabazar village. Combing operations to eliminate the entire poultry population of the area is being launched there from tomorrow and this is expected to continue for the next three to four days, said the sources.

In the Rampur Development Block, 18 Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) are at work, while 14 RRTs are at work in the Rani Development Block to continue the culling operations. But in the Rampur Development Block, there is still a shortage of RRTs. Therefore, services of ten Sonitpur RRTs have been requisitioned to continue with the culling operations. The Sonitpur RRTs are expected to reach Rampur Development Block tomorrow, said the sources.

The number of commercial farms and their size in the Rampur Development Block has added to the problems of the RRTs. There are more than 100 commercial farms in the Development Block and size of some of the farms is very big. For example, the total area of the four farmhouses of Mukibur Rahman of Hujuirpara Chuburi of Chayani Rangamati village in Sarpara is around 24,168 square feet and the total number of poultry in the farm is around 23,500.

Culling operations will take another four to five days to complete in the Rampur Development Block. However, the culling operations in the Rani Development Block are expected to be completed a little earlier, said the sources.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup has said in an official order that compensation would not be paid to those poultry owners whose poultry are required to be culled forcefully due to lack of cooperation from the owners. Moreover, punitive measures will also be initiated against those owners.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/...d=dec0708/at08

[Giuseppe]

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

INDIA: AVIAN INFLUENZA H5N1 POULTRY EPIZOOTICS, ASSAM, UPDATE (12/6/2008)

Original PDF document at LINK


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<table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From TABLES</td></tr></tbody></table>

[HenryN]

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

Bird flu spreads to new areas in Assam
Bijay Sankar Bora
Tribune News Service
Guwahati, December 5
The avian influenza that broke out at a village under Hajo revenue circle in Kamrup district of Assam has spread to new areas in neighbouring Nalbari and Barpeta districts even after culling of over 50,000 fowls by Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) of the state.
Director of Assam Veterinary Department Ashwini Kotoky said test reports of samples sent to Bhopal-based High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL) confirmed incidence of the bird flu at Katajar village under Gobardhana block in Barpeta district and Kachla Village under West Nalbari block in Nalbari district.
The official said the culling of fowls would be carried out in villages surrounding the new epicenters of bird flu. Villages within 3 km radius of the epicenter of incidence would be covered by the culling operation. About 30,000 fowls are targeted in the area around the epicenter at Katajar village in Barpeta district while another 15,000 fowls will be culled in areas surrounding Kachla village in Nalbari district. The official said over 50,000 fowls had already been culled in Hajo, Palasbari and Rani revenue circles under Kamrup district. The official said the source of the deadly virus was difficult to be ascertained as it was air borne. Meanwhile, the Assam government has banned sale and movement of poultry products from bird flu affected areas.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20081206/nation.htm#8

[AlaskaDenise]

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

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12...d_Concern.html

Commentary

Rapid H5N1 Spread in Assam India Raises Pandemic Concerns
Recombinomics Commentary 16:35
December 6, 2008

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.

The above comments raise concerns that the recent spread of H5N1 to five districts (see update map), will be increased by delayed testing and below market compensation. The above comments indicate the poultry in the five districts has been dying for the past 1-2 weeks, which increases the change of spread to resident wild birds as well as those eating the birds, including villagers. A year ago birds began dying in West Bengal in December, but the first OIE report was not filed until mid-January, and culling operations began in late January and February. The result was the largest outbreak in India and Bangladesh reported to date, and the first confirmed human case (in Dhaka in Bangladesh).

It is likely that the number of human cases in India and Bangladesh were markedly higher than the one confirmed case. These additional infections in humans, as well as other mammals eating dead or dying birds increases the likelihood of genetic changes leading to more efficient transmission human to human. A year ago there was a confirmed H2H2H transmission chain in Pakistan, which began with a culler who fatally infected a brother, who then infected two additional brothers. Published sequences from India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan are clade 2.2.3, raising concerns that similar increases in transmission efficiencies could evolve from the infections in Indian and/or Bangladesh.

The early start of the outbreak in Assam and Bangladesh raises concerns that the outbreak could spread as the temperature drops and more birds migrate to and through the area.


.

[HenryN]

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

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=4 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=articleheader>Bird flu alert in Assam
</TD></TR><TR><TD class=articleauthor>A STAFF REPORTER</TD></TR><TR><TD class=story align=left>

Guwahati, Dec. 6: Dispur today sounded a statewide alert and sent a collection of samples for examination to the Bhopal-based High Security Animal Disease Laboratory after bird flu spread to Barpeta and Nalbari districts as well.
Culling operations will begin in the two districts tomorrow. So far, 97,000 birds have been culled in Kamrup and Kamrup (metro) districts which were affected earlier.
Dispur will launch an awareness drive from tomorrow to ensure that avian influenza does not spread and that the poultry farmers co-operate with the authorities.
Veterinary department director Aswini Kakati said rapid response teams would start culling in Nalbari and Barpeta tomorrow. Operations are on at Rampur and Rani in Kamrup district. ?We have so far culled 97,000 birds in Hajo and other affected areas. Mopping operations are on in Hajo now,? he added.
The government?s publicity wing will also launch a publicity drive to educate people about bird flu and the rates the affected persons would get for culling operations.
?The problem is that once bird flu is declared, those likely to suffer because of the culling operations start secretly transporting poultry and poultry products outside the danger zone, thereby abetting its spread,? Kakati said.
?The publicity drive will also inform people about the various Centre-approved rates to be paid to the affected. The rates for small chicks are Rs 20, layer (egg-laying) Rs 50, broiler (big) Rs 40, broiler (small) Rs 20, duckling Rs 35, duck Rs 75, geese (big) Rs 75, geese (small) Rs 35 and egg per piece Rs 2,? he added.
The Mizoram government has also prohibited the import of eggs, chicken, birds and pigs from Myanmar, Bangladesh and and the neighbouring states, reports PTI.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/108120...y_10216514.jsp

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[HenryN]

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

Tripura, Mizoram sound bird flu alert

Agartala/Aizawl (IANS): The northeastern states of Tripura and Mizoram Sunday sounded a bird flu alert after the spread of the virus in adjoining Assam, officials said.
More than 100,000 poultry were culled in Assam during the past 10 days after a bird flu outbreak in the state.
"The Mizoram government has asked traders not to import poultry and poultry products from Assam and asked its officials to maintain a close vigil along the border," Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary C. Sangnghina said.
He said: "There are no reports of avian flu attack in Mizoram, but we cannot remain complacent." The Tripura government also issued a similar bird flu alert. "More than 80 Rapid Response Teams (RRT) are ready to act in case of an outbreak of bird flu in Tripura," said Sisir Paul, deputy director of the state's animal resource department.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus...0812071242.htm<!-- story ends -->

[HenryN]

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

Tripura, Mizoram sound bird flu alert

Agartala/Aizawl (IANS): The northeastern states of Tripura and Mizoram Sunday sounded a bird flu alert after the spread of the virus in adjoining Assam, officials said.
More than 100,000 poultry were culled in Assam during the past 10 days after a bird flu outbreak in the state.
"The Mizoram government has asked traders not to import poultry and poultry products from Assam and asked its officials to maintain a close vigil along the border," Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary C. Sangnghina said.
He said: "There are no reports of avian flu attack in Mizoram, but we cannot remain complacent." The Tripura government also issued a similar bird flu alert. "More than 80 Rapid Response Teams (RRT) are ready to act in case of an outbreak of bird flu in Tripura," said Sisir Paul, deputy director of the state's animal resource department.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus...0812071242.htm<!-- story ends -->

Update map with Assam outbreak and Mizoram and Tripura

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&t=h&hl=en&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=106484775090296685271.0004353ecc9cb8856de8c&num=200&start=400&ll=24.836596,91.604004&spn=4.72482,6.053467&z=7

[HenryN]

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

Bird Flu, Assam
Guwahati, Dec 7 : Around 100,000 poultry have been eliminated at the three bird flu-affected areas of the State so far.
However, the launch of culling operations in the bird flu affected Gobardhana Development Block and Pachim Nalbari Development Block areas of Barpeta and Nalbari districts respectively were deferred for tomorrow.
Informing this, official sources here said that mopping operations were conducted yesterday in the Hajo Revenue Circle areas in a zone of 3 km around Thakuria Chuba of Rajabazar village.
Combing operations to eliminate the entire poultry population of the area is being launched there from tomorrow and this is expected to continue for the next three to four days, said the sources.
In the Rampur Development Block, 18 Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) are at work, while 14 RRTs are at work in the Rani Development Block to continue the culling operations. But in the Rampur Development Block, there is still a shortage of RRTs.
Therefore, services of ten Sonitpur RRTs have been requisitioned to continue with the culling operations. The Sonitpur RRTs are expected to reach Rampur Development Block tomorrow, said the sources.

http://www.sinlung.com/northeast/assam/assam-cull-reaches-100000.html

[HenryN]

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

EDITORIAL

<HR width="100%" noShade>Bird flu
? The dreaded bird flu or avian influenza, which was confirmed at a village of Hajo in Kamrup district on November 27, has since spread to a number of new areas of several districts. This is a matter of grave concern, as the efforts initiated at containing the disease have not been successful. That four districts should have come under the grip of bird flu in less than a fortnight points to some lacunae in the Government's handling of the situation. Obviously, loopholes were there in the execution of the measures aimed at tackling the spread of the disease. First, the authorities were late in having the abnormal death of fowls in large numbers ? reported since November 21 -- confirmed as bird flu. Precious time was lost in getting the disease confirmed, which delayed initiation of the corrective measures. Then, notwithstanding the ban on movement of poultry once the disease was confirmed, it is apparent that the implementation of the prohibitory order was far from effective ? something corroborated by the occurrence of the disease in the three neighbouring districts of Kamrup. Then, allegations have also been made about the unscientific disposal of the remains of the dead birds whereas safe practices of poultry handling and their scientific disposal assume utmost importance under the prevailing circumstances.

The situation is one of emergency, and warrants response of a similar nature. Since the bird flu virus, H5N1, can have catastrophic consequences once it spreads to humans from birds, a foolproof mechanism needs to be put in place to check its further spread. Due to its high lethality and virulence, its endemic presence, its increasingly large host reservoir, and its significant ongoing mutations, the H5N1 virus is said to be the world's largest current pandemic threat. While culling operations are continuing in the affected areas, round-the-clock monitoring of poultry throughout the State is a dire necessity. Also imperative is prevention of clandestine movement of poultry from the affected districts to other areas. Steps taken by the State Veterinary Department and the civil administration apart, the public, too, needs to be vigilant and report any abnormal behaviour of birds to the authorities at the earliest. This being the migration season of birds, the threat perception is all the more potent. The wetlands of the State, too, ought to be monitored constantly. The Forest Department apart, volunteers from wildlife NGOs can do a good job in ensuring this much-needed vigilance.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=dec0708/edit1

[HenryN]

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

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12070801/H5N1_Alert_Tripura_Mizoram.html

[HenryN]

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

Alert sounded as bird-flu spreads to new areas in Assam
PTI
Sunday, December 07th, 2008 AT 8:12 PM

Guwahati: An alert has been sounded in lower Assam districts, as bird-flu is spreading to Nalbari, Baska, Barpeta and Bongaigaon from Kamrup (rural) district, official sources said here today.
Prohibition orders under Section 144 CrPC were imposed and sale, purchase and movement of poultry, and eggs are banned in the affected areas, as well as the nearby markets, the sources said.
Starting from Hajo revenue circle of Kamrup (rural) early this week the avian disease spread to fresh districts, forcing the government to deploy several rapid response teams in the affected areas for culling of the birds.
Along with the rapid response team, specialists and doctors were deployed in the affected areas, the sources said.
Kamrup (rural) district deputy commissioner R C Jain told that the avian flu was suspected to have been brought into the state by migratory birds.
Meanwhile, over one lakh bird was culled in Kamrup (rural) district.
People whose poultry birds were culled were paid compensation of Rs 17, 18 and 30 depending on the type and size of the birds, Jain said.
Stating that some poultry owners were resisting culling, official sources said their birds would be culled with police assistance and legal action would be taken against them.
The outbreak of bird-flu was confirmed by the Bhopal-based animal disease laboratory, after testing blood samples of the affected birds.

http://www.sakaaltimes.com/2008/12/0...dflu-spre.html

[HenryN]

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

Updated map

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&t=h&hl=en&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=106484775090296685271.0004353ecc9cb8856de8c&num=200&start=400&ll=26.240461,91.598511&spn=2.335335,3.026733&z=8

[HenryN]

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

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12070802/H5N1_Assam_Spread_6.html

[HenryN]

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

Ban on poultry transportation in Assam as bird flu spreads
Samudra Gupta Kashyap
Posted: Dec 08, 2008 at 2253 hrs IST
Guwahati: With bird flu spreading to at least three districts since it was first detected in a village in Hajo block in Kamrup (Rural) district in November, authorities in Assam have imposed a ban on inter-district transportation of poultry.
?We have so far culled over one lakh chicks in different villages in Kamrup, Nalbari and Barpeta districts, while authorities in different districts have banned entry of poultry from other districts in order to prevent further spread of the disease,? Aswini Kataky, Director of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry said here on Sunday.
It was on November 27 that the authorities first detected the dreaded disease in Rajabazar village under Hajo revenue circle in Kamrup (Rural) district and atleast 25,000 birds were culled in a 3-km radius of Rajabazar. Four days later bird flu was detected and confirmed at Patgaon village under Rani block as well as in Sarpara village under Rampur block, both in Kamrup district. Bird flu was subsequently reported and confirmed in Gobardhana block in Barpeta district and in Paschim Nalbari block in the last three days. Rapid reaction teams have already culled about 50,000 birds in these two blocks in the last two days, Kataky said.
The Assam Government has sounded a general alert against the spread of bird flu apart from the ban on inter-district transportation of poultry. ?There have been some reports of people trying to shift the birds from infected areas to other places with the intention of disposing them off in the markets instead of taking the government compensation,? Kataky said.
Meanwhile, authorities in the three Barak Valley districts of southern Assam have banned the entry of poultry from neighbouring Manipur, Meghalaya and Mizoram in view of the bird flu reported from different parts of the state. A sizeable number of poultry is regularly smuggled into the Barak Valley from Bangladesh and it was from such smuggled poultry that Tripura had suffered a massive outbreak of bird flu last year.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Ban-on-poultry-transportation-in-Assam-as-bird-flu-spreads/395383

[HenryN]

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

Assam sounds bird flu alert
Guwahati | Sunday, Dec 7 2008 IST


Culling operations today began in Barpeta and Nalbari districts after bird flu spread to as many as four lower Assam districts with the state government launching a publicity overdrive to ensure that infection does not assume epidemic proportions. In the worst ever bird flu outbreak in the country, since the first virus was detected in Maharastra in 2006, four Assam districts Nalbari, Barpeta and Kamrup (rural and metro) had been affected with the first disease detected in Hajo area of Kamrup (rural) district in the last week of November. More than one lakh birds had already been culled with another close to one lakh targeted to be culled. Veterinary department Director A K Kotoky informed that all precautions were being taken to ensure the disease did not spread to new areas. No unnatural death of poultry had been reported so far from any other district. All districts had already been put on high alert after the confirmation of the first outbreak almost ten days ago with a publicity campaign being launched to check smuggle of poultry from affected areas as well as to ensure that owners cooperate in affected areas for culling. The government was also ensuring that proper compensation, as per pre-fixed norms, reached the people. The gradual dip in temperature has further augmented the fear of wider spread of bird flu, as the virus is known to spread faster in low temperatures and also increase the possibility of human infection.
With Id-Ul-Zuha on Tuesday, both traders as well as followers of Islam are in quandary over chicken, which traditionally is one of the main cuisines on that day. The traders have already stocked for bumper sale on that day but now the flu outbreak has brought it under doubt.
-- (UNI) -- 07CA29.xml

http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20081207/1122954.html