High alert in Orissa after bird flu hits Assam

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus...0812011422.htm

High alert in Orissa after bird flu hits Assam

Bhubaneswar (IANS): Orissa government has directed all officials to be on alert and take measures to prevent an outbreak of bird flu in the state after the disease hit areas in Assam, officials said Monday.

"The fishery and animal husbandry resource development department has alerted all its officials across the state", director of the department Bishnupada Sethi told IANS.

"No flu has been detected in our state. But still we are taking all precautions" he said.

Millions of migratory birds from places as far as Siberia and Iraq flock every year to Orissa during winter and the government has deployed special teams to spot sick birds, Sethi said.

At least 750,000 migratory birds have come to Chilika Lake - India's largest brackish water lagoon, about 100 km from Bhubaneswar, since October.

"We spotted seven to eight sick birds during past one month and treated them", the chief executive of the Chilika Development Authority, Dr Sudarsan Panda told IANS.

None of the birds were, however, found carrying the strains of the deadly H5N1 avian influenza.

Thousands of migratory birds have also flocked to Bhitarkanika sanctuary in Kendrapara district, some 170 km from here, but forest officials say all the birds they found are well enough and none of them have signs of sickness.

[HenryN]

Re: High alert in Orissa after bird flu hits Assam

Bhitarkanika safe from flu
Statesman News Service
KENDRAPARA, Dec 14: The ornithologists and bird experts have ruled out the possibility of an outbreak of avian influenza in any of the habitats of Bhitarkanika National Park, where winged species have thronged this winter.
The forest department sources said that heronries within the Bhitarkanika National Park are safe from avian influenza.
A senior forest official said: "The Wildlife Institute of India and Bombay Natural History Society had conducted a joint field survey in last two months and their findings rule out the presence of avian influenza virus in any avian species."
"As per the experts? findings, the winter migrant birds besides the local migratory water birds ensconced in Bhitarkanika are perfectly safe and entirely free from infection," said an officer of the national park.
"With influx of birds from cooler spheres of trans-Himalayan region ending in mid-November, there is no cause to worry oner flu outbreak," he added. Earlier the forest personnel of Bhitarkanika National Park were asked by the Union ministry of environment and forest to keep close watch on possible exodus of avian-flu infected migratory birds to numerous habitats in Bhitarkanika wetland.
The vigil was greater on great cormorant species which are found making yearly visits to this wetland from central Asian countries. According to reports the said species, besides host of other winter migrant avian species are vulnerable to the flu attack.
Instructions were on to segregate the birds found drooping from other birds and conduct tests on the blood samples. However no migratory bird showed such symptom, said sources.

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=9&theme=&usrsess=1&id=235745

[HenryN]

Re: High alert in Orissa after bird flu hits Assam

<TABLE style="PADDING-LEFT: 10px" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="100%">2,000 chickens culled in Orissa over flu fear</ARTTITLE>
18 Dec 2008, 1059 hrs IST, IANS
</TD></TR><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=left><!-- google_ad_section_start -->BHUBANESWAR: Authorities in Orissa on Thursday morning culled at least 2,000 chickens in Balasore district after they were detected in a bus coming from bird-flu hit West Bengal, officials said.

Veterinary officials spotted the poultry in a private bus at Laxmannath check post on the Orissa-West Bengal border early Thursday, Bishnupada Sethi, director of the fisheries and animal resource development department said.

The poultry was later culled.

Sethi blamed the West Bengal government for not checking the movement of poultry birds and products. "They should take measures not to allow movement of birds from their state to Orissa," he said.

The Orissa government Tuesday imposed a ban on the import of poultry from neighbouring states following the confirmation of the presence of H5N1 bird flu virus in West Bengal.

Sethi said the state government had collected blood samples from thousands of birds from various parts of the state but all of them tested negative for bird flu.

"We have asked the collectors of at least eight districts bordering West Bengal to remain alert," Sethi said, adding that instructions have also been given to personnel manning the check posts to search passing vehicles to ensure no poultry enters the state.

The West Bengal government on Monday said strains of the dreaded avian flu virus were detected by the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory at Bhopal in blood samples collected from two dead poultry birds in Malda district.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/rssarticleshow/msid-3855678,prtpage-1.cms

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[HenryN]

Re: High alert in Orissa after bird flu hits Assam

Poultry birds seized, culled in Orissa
PTI
Thursday, December 18, 2008 19:01 IST

BHUBANESWAR: In a bid to prevent an outbreak of birdflu in Orissa, state government officials have seized about 4,000 poultry chicks illegally brought from neighbouring West Bengal and culled the birds, official sources said.
While 2,000 chicks were seized near Laxman Nath check gate in Balasore district on Wednesday from a trader who brought them from West Bengal, nearly as many birds were seized today, the sources said.
These chicks were brought in violation of the ban on the movement of poultry and poultry products imposed by the state government in bordering districts, chief veterinary officer of Balasore Raj Kishore Dutta said.
Culling operation of the seized poultry chicks, whose blood samples have been collected for examination, has started as a precautionary measure, a senior official said.
Not a single case of avian flu has been found from any part of the state so far, he said.
As a preventive measure, all the major check gates in districts adjoining West Bengal, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh have been sealed and strict vigil was maintained on roads connecting the neighbouring states to restrict movement of poultry and poultry products into Orissa, he said.
Prohibitory orders under section 144 were also clamped in villages bordering West Bengal in districts like Balasore and Mayurbhanj, the official said.
Vaccination drive was on in these areas and medical teams as well as rapid response teams formed to check spread of the deadly disease.

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1215086

[HenryN]

Re: High alert in Orissa after bird flu hits Assam

Avian flu threat: watch on migratory birds


Staff Reporter



<TABLE width="100%" bgColor=#d0f0ff border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Blood samples of dead birds found in Chilika lake being sent for lab analysis </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>



<HR color=lightblue noShade>Bombay Natural History Society provides expert help to keep watch
So far, dysentery and exhaustion two major causes of death of birds
<HR color=lightblue noShade>

<CENTER>? Photo: AP

A vendor at a chicken market in Bhubaneswar on Thursday. </CENTER>
BERHAMPUR: Alarmed by the reports of bird flu infection in adjoining West Bengal extra watch is being kept on the health of migratory birds that have arrived in the Chilika lake.
It may be noted that the State Government has already banned import of poultry and related products from neighbouring states and all district administrations have been cautioned against letting any poultry products from avian flu-infected areas enter their region. The Forest Department has been instructed to have extensive surveillance at the Chilika lake where lakhs of migratory birds have arrived.
According to CEO of Chilika Development Authority (CDA), Sudarsan Panda, the re-emergence of avian flu in eastern region has made the authorities extra vigilant about possibility of bird flu-affected migratory birds in the Chilika lake this winter. The blood samples of dead birds found in the lake area are being collected to be sent to High Security Animal Diseases Laboratory, Bhopal.
The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) has provided expert help to keep watch on bird flu infection among migratory birds in the lake. The CDA staff, forest and veterinary officials of the area have been trained for preparedness to fight bird flu by taking necessary measures to avoid infection while handling sick birds showing symptoms of suspected avian flu infection.
Special rescue units


Special veterinary medical rescue units for ailing birds are also operating inside the Nalabana bird sanctuary, one of the major perching areas of migratory birds inside the lake, said the CDA authorities. The birds showing symptoms of illness are brought to these rescue centres. Apart from their treatment their blood samples are collected. These samples are sent for testing for possibility of avian flu infection.
Till now it has been found that dysentery and exhaustion are the two major causes of death of migratory birds that arrive in the lake. Last year the blood samples collected from dead migratory birds found inside the lake did not show any signs of bird flu infection. It was found that some birds die due to the extreme fatigue caused by their long flight to reach the lake and some of them die of dysentery caused by food infection.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/19/stories/2008121954270300.htm

[HenryN]

Re: High alert in Orissa after bird flu hits Assam

Birds tested for avian flu at Sultanpur
veterinary doctors has started collecting blood samples to test for the disease in migratory birds at the Sultanpur Lake and Bhindawas in Haryana.
A medical team, led by Dr Kusum Lata and other veterinary doctors, and forest officials, took blood samples from five birds, two pairs of the Common Teal and one Grey Heron. ?While it?s routine to collect blood from migratory birds coming from long distances and sending the samples for tests to eliminate the possibility of any kind of infection, this time round we will be testing local birds as well,? Sayed Khan, wildlife inspector at Sultanpur Lake, said.
Khan said that while animals brought from other states and countries to zoos are quarantined for a good 30 to 45 days, this cannot be done in the case of migratory birds, which also interact with the local bird population. This year, therefore, the Haryana government has issued orders for tests on local as well as migratory birds. The order has been issued by the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden (Haryana) Dr D R Ramesh Singh. He could not be contacted for comment.
The process of blood sample collection from migratory birds, like the Pintail and the Spotbill, starts around October and continues till February end. In this period, blood samples are collected twice and a tab is kept on any unnatural casualty. Samples from indigenous species are also being collected.
Khan said even if one bird tests positive for the disease, it would call for immediate action. ?Any bird found with symptoms is to be rushed it to Jalandhar or Bhopal for further tests,? Khan said.

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/birds-tested-for-avian-flu-at-sultanpur/400235/

[HenryN]

Re: High alert in Orissa after bird flu hits Assam

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=4 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=articleheader>Bengal birds culled in Orissa
</TD></TR><TR><TD class=articleauthor>OUR CORRESPONDING</TD></TR><TR><TD class=story align=left>

Bhubaneswar, Dec. 18: Some 3,200 chickens were culled at Balasore today after state officials raided two vehicles carrying poultry from Bengal.
The government on Tuesday had imposed a ban on poultry import from neighbouring states following confirmation of the presence of bird flu virus in Bengal. The first bus seized last night was on its way from Haldia in Bengal to Puri.
A team of veterinarians and commercial tax officers near Laxmannath check post on the Orissa-Bengal border found as many as 39 cartons with 2,000, day-old chicks. ?However, there were no claimants to the boxes and thus no one was booked,? said Rajkishore Dutta, the chief district veterinary officer of Balaore. The birds were culled at Jaleswar this morning. Later in the afternoon yet another vehicle carrying 1,200 day-old chicks were seized from Balasore industrial area and culled in the evening. Bishnupada Sethi, the director of the fisheries and animal resource department, blamed the Bengal government.
Meanwhile, prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the IPC were promulgated in 70 villages of the district. ?Checks have been intensified at major points and in 15 connecting roads to Bengal,? said district collector Alekh Chandra Padhihari.
Immunisation process is on and the staff are keeping strict vigil at bus stands and railway stations, he added.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/108121...y_10273423.jsp

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[HenryN]

Re: High alert in Orissa after bird flu hits Assam

Bird flu threat: curbs in four more districts


Staff Reporter







BHUBANESWAR: The Orissa government on Friday imposed prohibition in four more districts on import of poultry and poultry-related material from West Bengal and Jharkhand in an attempt to prevent outbreak of bird flu in the State.
Prohibition under CrPC 144 was clamped on poultry import in Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh and Keonjhar taking the total districts under the ban order to eight, said Dr. Tanaya Ratan Pati, Deputy Director (planning) of Animal Husbandry. Poultry import was banned in Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Kendrapara and Bhadrak districts on Thursday.
About 3,200 poultry chicks were culled in Balasore district during the last two days, Dr. Pati said. While import of 2,000 chicks were detected at Laxmananath Unified Check Gate in Balasore district, 1,200 chicks were seized from a person who was said to have imported from a firm of West Bengal.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/20/stories/2008122057840300.htm

[Shiloh]

Re: High alert in Orissa after bird flu hits Assam

Source: http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/s...e=nUFeEOBkuKw=

Bird flu scare: Balasore refuses to chicken out


Express News Service
First Published : 22 Dec 2008 08:44:34 AM IST
Last Updated :

BALASORE: Even as the district veterinary officials have culled nearly 4,000 chicks here, that were illegaly transported from West Bengal, locals are hardly scared of the possible outbreak of bird flu.

As per reports, Balasore district has 332 poultry farms and around 2.5 lakh chickens in each of these farms, there are around nine lakh chickens in the district. But no case of bird flu has yet been reported from the district, which is the third largest producer of poultry products in state. Berhampur and Sundargarh are two other producers of poultry products. Moreover, with the import of chicken stopped from Bengal, the poultry businessmen have started making profits out of the situation. ??Despite the flu alert, there is absolutely no impact on the people. So keeping the stock in mind we have hiked the rate by Rs 5 per kg. Earlier we were selling the same at Rs 90 per kg and now, it is being sold at Rs 95,?? said Ganga Sahu, a poultry businessman. According to a rough estimate, on an average Balasore town, which has around a 100 hundred chicken centres, consumes over 10 tonne chicken daily. Similarly, there is a little effect on egg sale. Chicken feeds business is also running smoothly. However, as per the government instructions, the district veterinary department has geared up to tackle a possible outbreak of bird flu and has already initiated measures.

Chief District Veterinary Officer (CDVO) R.K. Dutta said, ??Strict vigil is being kept along the inter-state border with West Bengal. The inter-state check gate is being used and CrPC section 144 has been clamped in 72 border villages to stop the possible entry of poultry products.?? Meanwhile, as people are not willing to give up on chicken consumption, veterinary experts have issued cautionary notices on how to consume poultry and its products.

[Shiloh]

Re: High alert in Orissa after bird flu hits Assam

Source: http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/s...engal,%20Oriss

Bird flu scare confined to Malda


Express News Service
First Published : 22 Dec 2008 08:38:35 AM IST
Last Updated : 22 Dec 2008 09:41:45 AM IST

BHUBANESWAR: With bird flu scare still confined to Malda district of West Bengal, Orissa is breathing easy.

Last time during January-February, the mass deaths of poultry were reported from Midnapore district bordering Balasore and Mayurbhanj sending the Orissa Government into a tizzy.

However, this time around Malda, about 600 km from the border, has been the centre of problem. ??So far, we have not received any report from West Bengal about spread of the avian flu districts other than Malda. But we are leaving nothing to chance,?? a senior officer said.

By Sunday, 1,83,600 poultry birds have been vaccinated against the Ranikhet disease in the eight districts.

Similarly, 1,246 blood samples were sent to Kolkata-based Regional Diseases Diagnostic Laboratory and another 50 to Highrisk Security Animal Diseases Laboratory, Bhopal, for examination. ??So far, we have not received any positive report from any of the two,?? the official said.

The Animal Resources Development Department had already imposed prohibitory orders at the checkgates of eight districts but a close watch is kept at Mayurbhanj and Balasore. The department?s field staff have so far conducted awareness meetings at 131 villages in the two districts.

[Shiloh]

Re: High alert in Orissa after bird flu hits Assam

Source: http://www.newspostonline.com/health...-2008122921649

High alert against Bird flu sounded in Orissa

Bhitarkanika (Bhubaneshwar), Dec 29 (ANI): As hundreds of migratory birds have started flocking the Bhitarkanika National Park in Bhubaneshwar, authorities have sounded high alert following the outbreak of bird flu in West Bengal.

Several migratory birds and residential avian species like sand piper, plover, duck, goose, heron, spoon bill and egret flock the park every winter.

Many shore bird species like sand piper, plover, duck, goose, heron, spoon bill and egret were seen around the park.

Avocet, which comes from cold places like Siberia and Bar-headed Geese from Ladakh, were also sighted near Raitapatia and Chataka.

A horde of 206 Indian Skimmers was flocking at Barunes. Brahmin ducks were also spotted at Raitapatia.

The Annual bird census 2008 carried out by the park authorities found that 79 types of water bird species thronged the park this year.

During the bird census, the forest officials have sighted seven types of winter migratory birds? species, which are listed in the Red Data book of International Union Conservation (IUCN).

This year the number of birds visiting the region has declined. Last year about 1.31 lakh of birds had flocked the park area.

The state forest department was maintaining a strict vigil and was carefully working to check the presence of the deadly H5N1 avian influenza virus.

?Some of our ranger officers have got training regarding the bird flu and have alerted all our staff,? said Arvind Mishra, a range officer.

Hundreds of veterinary workers in Malda district of West Bengal began killing up to 16,000 chickens and ducks in mid December as authorities tried to contain the latest outbreak of the H5N1 bird flu virus in the region. (ANI)