Bird flu in poultry spreads in Chhukha

[Ronan Kelly]

Bird flu spreads in Chhukha
Yangchen C Rinzin, Phuentsholing

The dzongkhag has seen four outbreaks in two months
Just as the report from Bhopal laboratory in India officially confirmed that a bird flu or H5N1 virus had killed the 87 birds in Tshimasham, last December, another outbreak was confirmed in Ramitey, Phuentsholing on February 10.

This is the fourth outbreak reported in the dzongkhag in about two months time.

On February 14, the bird flu surveillance team culled 27 birds (17 adults and 10 chicks) and burnt three coops in Ramitey, about 10km from Phuentsholing.

The tracheal and cloacal samples collected from the dead bird were sent for tests after a poultry owner informed livestock officials about the bird deaths at his backyard farm.

Dr Basant Sharma said two birds died during their investigation while another two died the following day in the same farm. All birds tested positive for H5N1.
...

http://www.kuenselonline.com/2011/?p=27191

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Bird flu in poultry spreads in Chhukha

Source: http://www.kuenselonline.com/2011/?p=27343

Feb 18, 2012
Five outbreaks in two months

?3D operation at Ramitey

As the bird flu spreads, so does culling.
In nine hours, the department of livestock culled 395 birds on February 16 in Ramitey and Wangdigatshel villages in Phuentsholing after another bird flu outbreak was confirmed in Wangdigasthel on February 14.

The 3D operation of depopulation, disposal and distemper of birds was carried out after the National Centre for Animal Health (NCAH) tested the samples positive for H5N1. A farmer in Wangdigatshel village had informed livestock officials after four of his six birds died on February 13.

Wangdigatshel village is about 15 km from Phuentsholing. The 3D operation by the men in white started around 7pm.

By 3am, the team had culled 395 birds, disposed 126 eggs, dismantled 17 coops and burnt 810 kg of poultry commercial foods along with 78 trays in the two villages.

Regional veterinary officer Dr Basant Sharma said there was an outbreak of different strains of the H5N1 virus in Tsimasham last December. ?And the virus is floating around these areas like it did in 2010, when Bhutan first reported the flu...?