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India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)
Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)
Bid to prevent spread of bird flu in Hojai Correspondent
HOJAI, Dec 21 ? In a bid to prevent the spread of bird flu in Hojai area, a meeting was organised by the Civil and Police administration on Friday at Hojai police station premises attended by SDM HO, SDVO gaon burhas, GP and AP members to discuss various ways and means to alert people from this highly infectious disease of birds.
The subdivisional veterinary officer Dr S Haque spoke on the measures adopted by his department and said that imported poultries likely to carry the disease or infected poultry are most likely to transmit the diseases to healthy domestic poultries. He informed that his field staff constantly monitoring the poultry areas but so far no informations of death of poultry due to flu have been received from any part of the subdivision. He further disclosed that blood samples from Hojai subdivision have been sent for confirmation of the presence of the bird flu virus and result is awaited.
Dr S Haque, SDM HO, Hojai cautioned that bird flu is a highly infectious disease with grave potential danger to human lives when infected. He stressed the need to alert people of its deadly consequences.
The chairman, Hojai Municipal Board, Babul Das, informed the measures adopted by the Board like public announcement, postering of banners, prevent selling of poultry in the markets etc.
Executive magistrate Jatindra Pathak, explained the steps initiated by Hojai civil administration and disclosed that the district administration as precauionary measures before any outbreak of disease in Nagaon district has passed orders U/S 144 Cr PC preventing entry of poultry into the district, prohibiting movement through all modes of transport among others and appealed to the people to keep a strict vigil and make people aware about the outcome of bird flu.
In his presidential speech, Arup Sarma, circle officer, Hojai revenue circle, stressed the need for concerted efforts and asked all the gaon burhas to alert the people and requested the gaon panchayat members to help in the campaign against bird flu.
Earlier, welcoming the attendents as part of explaining purpose SK Baruah, OC, Hojai PS dwelt on the steps adopted to prevent entry of poultry from outside in Hojai either by road or by railway engaging checking point in Chaparmukh and Lumding junction of NF Railway as well as by road at Veloguri.
Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)
Tripura bans import of poultry products from Assam CORRESPONDENT
AGARTALA, Dec 21 ? Alarmed by the outbreak of avian flu in Assam, Tripura Government on Saturday imposed a complete ban on importing poultry products from the neighbouring State.
Tripura, which had to struggle in April this year following outbreak of bird flu had been declared as avian flu free in October.
Though there is no report of fresh outbreak of bird flu, as part of routine surveillance measures, the government has decided to impose ban on importing chicks and eggs from Assam, said Commissioner of Animal Resource Development (ARD) U Venkateswarlu here.
He said that authorities of North Tripura district administration were asked to ensure no poultry product entered into State?s territory. ARD personnel were posted at Chouraibari check post? entry point of Tripura via Assam to carry out disinfection of vehicles coming from Assam, he said.
Besides, ARD personnel have started collecting samples in case of any death of chicks to ensure constant vigil on the situation, he said.
He further said that the Forest department had been asked to keep an eye on movement of migratory birds.
Earlier, the State Government had to impose a ban on importing of poultry products in the wake of massive outbreak of avian flu in Bangladesh.
He said that BSF authority has also intensified vigil along the Indo-Bangla border following fresh outbreak of avian flu in Bangladesh.
?This ban is still continuing keeping in mind the fresh outbreak of the disease in some districts of Bangladesh?, he added.
PTI adds: Two border districts of Nagaland have also banned entry of poultry and related products from Assam.
The district administrations of Mokokchung and Mon have asked police and civil officials posted at the inter-State border check-posts of Tizit and Naginimora to keep strict vigil on the movement of fowls, sources said.
?The Mokokchung deputy commissioner has asked all concerned departments to strictly ban entry of poultry and related products to the district till further orders,? they said. ? PTI
Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)
Source: http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/...d=dec2308/at07
Culling under directive from Centre: Govt
Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, Dec 22 ? State Government today reiterated its assertion that it has been conducting anti-bird flu drive in response to the instructions issued by the Union Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries after the poultry samples sent from the State tested positive of the H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus at the Bhopal-based High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL). State?s Veterinary Commissioner Shyamlal Mewra and Veterinary Director Dr A Kotoky said at a press conference here that the Union Department of Animal Husbandry had been issuing instructions to the State Government whenever the poultry samples sent from the State tested positive.
They were reacting to a news item that appeared in a section of the print media that the Bhopal-based HSADL did never found bird flu virus in the poultry samples of the State. Both of them also produced the notifications issued by the Union Department in this connection to substantiate their assertion.
The first of these notifications (No 50-258/2008-LDT -AQ) said, ? Consequent upon confirmation of the outbreak of Avian Influenza, the Government of Assam needs to take a series of strategic actions immediately. Such actions are to be taken both by the Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Department and the Public Health Department of the State. The strategy has been detailed in the document ?Action Plan of Animal Husbandry for Preparedness, Control and Containment of Avian Influenza,? revised and circulated by the Government of India in November, 2006 and other instructions/ guidelines issued by the Government of India from time to time??
The Veterinary Commissioner and Director said that out of the 12 locations where bird flu infection has been detected, culling operations have been completed except in Sariha Sakla village under Bajali Development Block of Barpeta District, Nilibari village under Sidli-Chirang Development Block of Chirang District and Kheluwapara Part-II village under Boitamari Development Block of Bongaigaon District.
Since December 16, no report of unusual death of poultry from any part of the State has been received. However, the State is sending poultry samples regularly to the HSADL and yesterday also some samples were sent, which included 21 carcasses of dead birds, to the laboratory, they said.
Till last evening, 4,06,573 birds were culled and 1,55,743 eggs and 12,553kgs of poultry feeds were destroyed under the anti-bird flu drive. An amount of Rs 1.32 crore was paid to the poultry farmers as compensation till yesterday. Due to the resistance from the farmers in Chirang District, more time will be required to complete the culling operations in Chirang District. In the rest of the areas, it is expected that the culling operations could be completed within two to three days.
The State Government is also contemplating to provide three she goats or two pigs per individual farmer who have lost their poultry during the current culling operations. One he goat will be provided to a group of seven families taking to goat farming, said the senior officials of the State Veterinary Department.
On December 28, the programme to provide goats and pigs to the poultry farmers of Dhubri and Kokrajhar who had lost their poultry during the drive to check spread of the disease from West Bengal areas in 2007, will be launched. The programme will require around Rs 3 crore for implementation, they said
Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)
Culling operation on in Baksa Correspondent
MUSHALPUR, Dec 22 ? Over 27,247 domestic fowls were culled till December 12 last and over 739 eggs were buried in Baksa district. Official sources maintain that an amount of over Rs 7,36,126 was paid to the owners of the culled poultry as compensation.
After detection of bird flu positive samples in and around Katajhar and Doomni villages under Gobardhana Development Block, poultry culling operation started from December 7 last within the 3-km radius from the epicentre Katajhar covering seven villages in Baksa district and six others in Barpeta district. The culling operation was carried out jointly by the RRT experts from the District AH & Veterinary department, Baksa and Barpeta districts. The culling operation was carried out with the cooperation of the district administration, Health and Family Welfare departments and police administration of Baksa and Barpeta districts. The mopping operation has been started in the villages under Barpeta district but culling operation is still going on in Baksa district.
Central teams are monitoring and supervising the operations. The district AH& Veterinary officer, Baksa has already directed all veterinary assistant surgeons and extension officers (Veterinary) under Baksa district to make routine surveillance, collect samples from the field and send them to RDDL, Khanapara. The bird samples from different places of Baksa district have already been sent to RDDL, Khanapara for confirmation of bird flu. SDO (Civil), Salbari subdivision has issued orders under Section 144 CrPC in the areas prohibiting sale of ducks, chickens, etc., and poultry products including transportation of these from and to the affected areas.
Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)
Birdflu: Jharkhand starts vigil
Ranchi (PTI): The Jharkhand government has sent advisories to districts bordering West Bengal to keep a strict vigil on movement of poultry in the wake of outbreak of birdflu across the border, official sources said here on Tuesday.
An official of the Animal Husbandry department, Vijay Kumar, has been made the nodal officer of a controlling cell set up in Dumka district, as Dumka and Pakur districts share borders with West Bengal.
To spread awareness about birdflu, the administration has been asked to distribute pamphlets while district forest officers have been asked to inform if they spot any dead bird in the forests.
A strict vigil was also been kept on migratory birds, the sources said.
Hazaribag, Sahebganj and Jamshedpur are the favourite destinations for migratory birds. There was no report of any birdflu case in Jharkhand.
Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)
Assam bird flu: poultry culling on, local resistance hampers drive
Guwahati, Dec 23 : More than 400,000 poultry have been culled so far in Assam after an outbreak of bird flu three weeks ago. But authorities were unable to complete the killing in some areas due to resistance from locals, officials said Tuesday.
"Culling operations are near complete in four of the seven bird flu hit districts, although in the three districts of Chirang, Barpeta, and Bongaigaon, we have not been able to finish the operations due to lack of cooperation from the locals," Assam Veterinary Commissioner S. Mewra said.
Seven Assam districts were hit by bird flu, killing hundreds of chicken and ducks about three weeks ago.
"We have culled more than 420,000 birds. There have been no reports of fresh deaths or bird flu virus in new areas since last week," Mewra said.
But lack of cooperation from locals in the three districts was posing a serious health risk, he pointed out. "Bird flu virus could spread to the adjoining areas if locals in the three districts do not cooperate with the culling operations. There are risks of the virus spreading to humans if people resist culling."
Meanwhile, expert central health teams are continuing door-to-door checks to ensure that the virus does not spread to humans. "So far there are no reports of the virus spreading to humans," central health ministry official Parthajyoti Gogoi said.
The state government has so far disbursed Rs.10 million as compensation to villagers for the poultry culled as per stipulated norms.
--- IANS
Information received on 19/12/2008 from Mr Natarajan Gokulram, Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, New Delhi, India
? Summary
Report type Follow-up report No. 3
Start date 21/11/2008
Date of first confirmation of the event 27/11/2008
Report date 19/12/2008
Date submitted to OIE 23/12/2008
Reason for notification Reoccurrence of a listed disease
Date of previous occurrence 11/2008
Causal agent Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus Serotype H5N1 Nature of diagnosis Laboratory (basic), Laboratory (advanced)
This event pertains to a defined zone within the country
Related reports
* Immediate notification (28/11/2008)
* Follow-up report No. 1 (11/12/2008)
* Follow-up report No. 2 (17/12/2008)
* Follow-up report No. 3 (19/12/2008)
? New outbreaks
* Outbreak 1 - Sariha Sakla, Bojali, Barpeta, ASSAM
Date of start of the outbreak 15/12/2008
Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit Village
Affected animals: Species - Susceptible - Cases - Deaths - Destroyed - Slaughtered * Birds - 1200 - 70 - 70 - 553
Affected population Rural Backyard poultry
* Outbreak 2 - Kheluwapara Pt-II, Boitamari, Bongaigaon, ASSAM
Date of start of the outbreak 15/12/2008
Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit Village
Affected animals: Species - Susceptible - Cases - Deaths - Destroyed - Slaughtered * Birds - 654 - 48 - 48 - 606
Affected population Rural Backyard Poultry
* Outbreak 3 - Kharghuli Jaipur, Ward No.37, Guwahati, Kamrup(Metro), ASSAM
Date of start of the outbreak 15/12/2008
Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit Village
Affected animals: Species - Susceptible - Cases - Deaths - Destroyed - Slaughtered * Birds - 407 - 20 - 20 - 387
? Summary of outbreaks Total outbreaks: 3
Total animals affected: Species - Susceptible - Cases - Deaths - Destroyed - Slaughtered * Birds - 2261 - 138 - 138 - 1546
Outbreak statistics: Species - Apparent morbidity rate - Apparent mortality rate - Apparent case fatality rate - Proportion susceptible animals lost*
* Birds - 6.10% - 6.10% - 100.00% - **
* Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter
** Not calculated because of missing information
? Epidemiology
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection
* Unknown or inconclusive
? Epidemiological comments
Epidemiological investigation is ongoing. Stamping out of all domestic poultry is being applied in an approximately 3-km-radius zone around the outbreaks followed by compensation of the owners.
An intensive surveillance campaign has been launched in a 10-km-radius zone including:
- closure of poultry markets and prohibition on sale and transportation of poultry products in the infected zone;
- disinfection of premises after culling and sealing of premises where appropriate.
Restocking will be applied in accordance with a specific protocol.
? Control measures
Measures applied
* Stamping out
* Quarantine
* Movement control inside the country
* Screening
* No vaccination
* No treatment of affected animals
Measures to be applied
* Disinfection of infected premises/establishment(s)
* Dipping / Spraying
? Diagnostic test results
Laboratory name and type High Security Animal Disease Laboratory, Bhopal (National laboratory)
Tests and results: Species - Test - Test date - Result
* Birds - real-time PCR - 15/12/2008 - Positive
* Birds - reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) - 15/12/2008 - Positive
Laboratory name and type National Institute of Virology (National laboratory)
Tests and results: Species - Test - Test date - Result
* Birds - reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) - 17/12/2008 - Positive
? Future Reporting
The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.
-
Species Measuring units Susceptible Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered
Birds Animals 407 20 20 387 ...
Follow-up report No.: 3. Report reference: , OIE Ref: 7624, Report Date: 19/12/2008, Country: India
Printed on: Tue Dec 23 17:12:38 Paris, Madrid 2008 Page 3/5
Affected Population
Outbreak summary: Total outbreaks = 13 (Submitted)
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered
Birds 257392 2415 2409 247352
Epidemiology
Epidemiological comments
Epidemiological investigation is ongoing. Stamping out of all domestic poultry is being applied in an approximately 3-km-radius zone around the outbreaks followed by compensation of the owners.
An intensive surveillance campaign has been launched in a 10-km-radius zone including:
- closure of poultry markets and prohibition on sale and transportation of poultry products in the infected zone;
- disinfection of premises after culling and sealing of premises where appropriate.
Restocking will be applied in accordance with a specific protocol.
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection
? Unknown or inconclusive
Control Measures
? Stamping out
Applied
? Quarantine
? Movement control inside the country
? Screening
To be applied
? Disinfection of infected premises/establishment(s)
? Dipping / Spraying
Animals treated
No
Vaccination Prohibited
No
Country / Zone
Country or zone
a zone or compartment
Diagnostic test results
Laboratory Type Name of Laboratory Species Test Type Date Results Provided Result
National laboratory High Security Animal Disease Laboratory, Bhopal Birds reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) 15/12/2008 Positive
National laboratory High Security Animal Disease Laboratory, Bhopal Birds real-time PCR 15/12/2008 Positive
National laboratory National Institute of Virology Birds reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) 17/12/2008 Positive
National laboratory High Security Animal Disease Laboratory, Bhopal Birds reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) 15/12/2008 Positive
National laboratory High Security Animal Disease Laboratory, Bhopal Birds real-time PCR 15/12/2008 Positive
Future Reporting
What further reports will be submitted in relation to this event?
There are 13outbreaks that are still recorded as unresolved. It is not possible to declare this event resolved until these individual outbreaks are resolved.
The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.
Follow-up report No.: 3. Report reference: , OIE Ref: 7624, Report Date: 19/12/2008, Country: India
Printed on: Tue Dec 23 17:12:39 Paris, Madrid 2008 Page 4/5
Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="85%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#eff0ef><TD vAlign=top align=middle colSpan=2> Status Report on Avian Influenza in Assam and West Bengal as on 23.12.08 <HR></TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eff0ef><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" vAlign=top width=103 height=30></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right" vAlign=top width=347 height=30>10:52 IST </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE width="90%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD class=rel style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = ST1 /><ST1:PLACE>WEST BENGAL</ST1:PLACE><?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O /><O:P></O:P> <O:P></O:P> Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, GOI has notified Avian Influenza Outbreak in Englishbazar block, Malda District of West Bengal on 15.12.2008. Containment measures have been instituted. In total 32495 birds have been culled. 210 animal health workers are under chemoprophylaxis. The active surveillance in 0-3 Km is continuing. Surveillance in 3-10 Km has also started in phases. 328 health workers have been deployed for active surveillance. Surveillance data is at Annexure-I<O:P></O:P><O:P></O:P> The State Government has adequate stock of ventilators, PPE and Oseltamivir <O:P></O:P><O:P></O:P>
<ST1:COUNTRY-REGION><ST1:PLACE>ASSAM</ST1:PLACE></ST1:COUNTRY-REGION><O:P></O:P><O:P></O:P> The first notification of Avian Influenza in <ST1:COUNTRY-REGION><ST1:PLACE>Assam</ST1:PLACE></ST1:COUNTRY-REGION> was in Hajo block of Kamrup district on 27.11.2008. Since then 12 other epicenters have been notified. The details of the epicenters are at Annexure-II. The last epicenter was notified on 16.12.2008.<O:P></O:P><O:P></O:P> Brief of containment operations <O:P></O:P> ? Culling activities has been completed in all blocks except district Chirang. Mopping up and sanitization is underway in other blocks. A total of 3235 birds were culled [cumulative 4,08,236].<O:P></O:P> ? A total of 471 Animal Health workers, deployed for the culling activity are on Chemoprophylaxis.<O:P></O:P><O:P></O:P> Surveillance<O:P></O:P> ? Central government has deployed RRTs to cover all epicenters. They are working with the state RRT teams. <O:P></O:P> ? Active house to house surveillance is being followed in 0-3 km zone in all epicenters and in 3-10 km in phases. A population of 2,31,378 was covered in 0-3 Km area and 1,00,729 in 3-10 km area. <O:P></O:P> ? 120 cases of Upper Respiratory Infection [URI] with fever were detected [80 in 0-3 Km and 40 in 3-10 Km]. None of them had history of handling dead or sick birds. <O:P></O:P> ? 62 cases of URI with fever in the outpatient department were detected in the identified health facilities. <O:P></O:P> ? 1057 health workers were deployed for surveillance. <O:P></O:P> ? Available details of epicenter-wise surveillance is at annexure-I. <O:P></O:P><O:P></O:P> Logistics<O:P></O:P><O:P></O:P> ? 30,000 capsules of Tamiflu, 9,000 surgical masks, 900 personal protective equipments, 300 N-95 masks and 8 ventilators have been supplied by MoHFW. Sufficient anti-viral drugs and PPE are in stock with the State Government.<O:P></O:P><O:P></O:P> Communication <O:P></O:P><O:P></O:P> ? Messages to create public awareness are being telecast/ broadcast in local channels and AIR. <O:P></O:P> ? Local campaign such as miking and interpersonal communication is followed in all epicenters.<O:P></O:P><O:P></O:P> Monitoring<O:P></O:P><O:P></O:P> ? The situation is being monitored on a daily basis. <O:P></O:P> <O:P> </O:P> DS/GK/avian/
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)
Bird flu spreads to six new areas: 4,16,758 poultry culled so far
</B>Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, Dec 25 ? The Central Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries department has confirmed the spread of the virus of the dreaded bird flu to six new areas of the State, highly placed sources in the State Veterinary and Animal Husbandry department here said. Sources told this correspondent here today that the new areas included Chalchaligaon Burhachawk village under Barhampur Development Block of Nagaon District, Bardulipara village under Tihu-Barama Development Block of Baksa District, Monahkuchi village under Hajo Development Block and Rangamati and Ourpakmoniaritiniali villages under Chayani-Barduwar Development Block of Kamrup district.
Moreover, the Central Government has also confirmed the outbreak of the disease among the poultry of Doloigaon Uzanpara village under Dhaligaon Development Block of Bongaigaon District.
While culling of poultry has started in the three km radius area of Chalchaligaon Burhachawk today, similar operations in the three km radius areas of the other newly notified bird flu-affected areas will start from tomorrow, said the sources.
With the new areas, bird flu disease has so far affected the poultry populations of 18 locations of the State since November 27. Culling and dis-infection operations have so far been completed in nine locations of Rajabazar, Patgaon, Sarpara, Bejerajalah, Kathla Katajhar, Khanapara, Kharghuli and Dibrugarh town.
Cleaning and dis-infection operations in Boitamari Kheluwapara and Bajali Sarihasakla are expected to be completed by day after tomorrow, while due to resistance from the local people, culling operations are yet to be completed at Nilibari village of Chirang District, said the sources.
Till yesterday evening, 4,16,758 poultry were killed, while 1,60,317 eggs and 12,553 kgs of poultry feed were destroyed during the anti-bird flu drive in the State, said the sources.
H5N1 In Six More Areas In Assam India Recombinomics Commentary 21:41 December 25, 2008
Sources told this correspondent here today that the new areas included Chalchaligaon Burhachawk village under Barhampur Development Block of Nagaon District, Bardulipara village under Tihu-Barama Development Block of Baksa District, Monahkuchi village under Hajo Development Block and Rangamati and Ourpakmoniaritiniali villages under Chayani-Barduwar Development Block of Kamrup district.
Moreover, the Central Government has also confirmed the outbreak of the disease among the poultry of Doloigaon Uzanpara village under Dhaligaon Development Block of Bongaigaon District.
The above comments describe confirmed H5N1 in six areas of Assam (see updated map). Although H5N1 has been confirmed in these districts previously, the confirmations are in new areas within the districts and come after the culling of 400,000 birds in Assam, indicating the H5N1 is still spreading and more outbreaks are expected.
These areas cover much of the western portion of Assam, and were expected in view of the acceleration of confirmed outbreaks in northwestern Bangladesh as well as unnatural deaths in wild birds. These confirmations also cast serious doubt on West Bengal claims that excessive poultry deaths in Malda and adjacent areas are due to Newcastle Disease.
Therefore, more outbreaks in West Bengal and adjacent areas are also expected.
.
"The next major advancement in the health of American people will be determined by what the individual is willing to do for himself"-- John Knowles, Former President of the Rockefeller Foundation
Guwahati, Dec 26: Bird flu has spread to new areas in Assam where culling of poultry has been going on since November 27.
Over five lakh chicken and ducks have been culled in the state.
Sources in the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department said cases of fresh bird flu attack were reported at Manahkuchi of Hajo and Chayani Barduar block in Kamrup (Rural) district, where the disease was first detected.
Other fresh areas to be hit by the virus are Tihu- Barama of Baksa district, Chachaligaon Burachowk village in Nagaon district, Rangamati, Aurpakmoniari Tiniali in Kamrup (Metro) district and Doloigaon Uzanpara in Bongaigaon district, the sources said.
Culling operations were initiated in the three-km radius area of the new bird flu-hit notified centres, while it continued in the previously notified areas.
With seven new locations notified, so far 19 epicentres were officially stated to be affected by avian flu in seven districts of Assam.
Nearly 150 villages have been declared bird flu-hit, for which 1,720 rapid response teams were deployed.
Almost two lakh eggs and 14,000 kg of bird feed have been destroyed since the beginning of culling.
Culling, mopping and disinfection operations were completed in nine centres of Kharghuli and Khanapara in Guwahati, Dibrugarh town, Rajabazar, Sarpara, Patgaon, Kathla, Katajhar and Bejerajalah.
Residents of Nalibari village in Chirang district resisted culling operations but veterinary officials were confident of convincing them to allow the anti-bird flu operation.
Compensation worth Rs 1.35 crore had so far been paid to the poultry owners, the sources said.
The affected districts are Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup (Rural), Nalbari, Barpeta, Chirang, Dibrugarh and Bongaigaon.
Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)
Bird flu spreading to new areas in Assam
More than 500,000 poultry have been culled in Assam in the past one month while authorities on Friday warned that the bird flu virus was spreading to new areas, officials said.
An Assam government spokesman said the bird flu virus was confirmed in about 15 more villages and the authorities have ordered culling of an estimated 70,000 birds.
"So far about 150 villages in eight Assam districts were hit by bird flu and Rapid Response Teams have already slaughtered about 510,000 chickens and ducks since Nov 27," a veterinary department official said.
The new bird flu cases were reported from the districts of Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup (Rural), Baksa, Bongaigaon and Nagaon.
"We have so far identified 19 epicentres affected by bird flu in Assam. Culling operations in newly affected areas have already begun, while in some places the drive is almost complete," the official said.
An estimated amount of Rs.10.35 million was paid as compensation to people whose poultry were culled. In most parts of Assam authorities have banned sale and consumption of poultry and poultry products.
"It is a matter of worry as the virus has now spread to new areas. A maximum health alert has been sounded with teams of doctors and paramedics taking precautionary measures so that humans are not affected," Parthajyoti Gogoi, regional director (northeast) of the central health and family welfare department, told IANS.
The Indian health ministry confirmed outbreak of bird flu after laboratory tests found strains of the deadly H5N1 avian influenza.
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Status Report on Avian Influenza in Assam and West Bengal as on 23.12.08 <HR></TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eff0ef><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" vAlign=top width=103 height=30></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right" vAlign=top width=347 height=30>
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