Experts told to find bird flu source-India/Imphal

[AlaskaDenise]

Imphal, August 18: A 10 member team of experts including scientists from the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory, Bhopal and the National Institute of Virology, Pune have been entrusted to find out source of the avian flu outbreak, first reported from a farm in Chingmeirong, Imphal.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, Director of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Dr Th Dorendro informed that Ministry of Agriculture constituted a 10 member team of experts to study and find out source/origin of the outbreak.

Among others, the team will include Joint Commissioner (Livestock-Health) of the Ministry AB Negi.

Th Dorendro who is also a member of the team noted that it is crucial to find out source of the outbreak.

Another official source informed that all the members of the team will be arriving at Imphal on August 21.Shortly after their arrival, the team will conduct a detail investigation.

All the members of the Rapid Response Teams engaged in mass culling of poultry birds who are now under observation will be allowed to go home on August 23 provided there is no complaint of any health problem.

At present, 6 RRTs are currently undertaking surveillance work in 5 to 10 kms radius of the Chingmeirong farm infected by bird flu.

Another 4 RRTs are engaged in culling left out poultry birds in the area within 0-5 kms radius from Chingmeirong.

On the other hand, under the Post Operation Surveillance Plan (POSP), intensive physical surveillance will be carried out by the staff of Joint Director (Veterinary) Imphal East and Imphal West to check that no birds have been introduced into the infected zone (0-5 km radius).

There will be regular fumigation and spraying of poultry farms/units every 15 days.

Physical surveillance in the area within 5-10 kms radius from Chingmeirong will continue to check any unusual morbidity and mortality in poultry birds.

Four teams deployed for collection of avian blood samples, cloacal swabs from poultry birds from 5-10 km radius area will continue their task after every 15 days.

These samples will be sent to the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory, Bhopal to confirm that the area is free from bird flu.

http://www.e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=1..190807.aug07

 

[Treyfish]

Experts told to find bird flu source-India/Imphal

Experts told to find bird flu source
Anuradha Mascarenhas

Posted online: Tuesday, August 21, 2007 at 0000 hrs

Pune, August 20: A team of experts, including scientists from the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL), Bhopal, and the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, have been entrusted with the task of finding the source of the avian flu outbreak at Chingmeirong in Imphal.
It is surprising how this farm got the H5N1 virus,? said Upma Chawdhry, Union Joint Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry.

Despite the fact that neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and Myanmar are strong suspects, the extensive surveillance authorities have not been able to pinpoint the source of the virus.
The Home Ministry has asked the border guards to step up the vigilance along the borders.
The Department of Animal Husbandry is also conducting intensive post-outbreak surveillance and an expert committee has been set up under the chairmanship of Union Animal Husbandry Commissioner Dr S K Bandopadhyay. ?We can even involve Forest Department officials if the need arises,? Chawdhry said. ?The committee has been set up to conduct epidemiological studies,? said Dr A C Mishra, Director of NIV.
The team is expected to conduct a detailed investigation that may throw up clues on the source of the virus. On July 25, the Manipur Government declared the outbreak after samples that were sent to the HSADL and NIV tested positive. Myanmar had reported the first bird flu outbreak in March 2006 and fresh cases early this year. The latest outbreak in Myanmar coincided with that in Manipur. Incidentally, India declared itself free of bird-flu in August, 2006 after a major outbreak in Maharashtra was contained. :tiphat: http://www.indianexpress.com/story/211662.html

 

[Treyfish]

Re: Experts told to find bird flu source-India/Imphal

Central team visits Moreh to find bird flu clues </B>

The Imphal Free Press

MOREH, Aug 23: An expert committee dispatched by the Central government to trace the origin of the bird flu outbreak in Manipur visited the border town of Moreh today.

The expert team led by commissioner of animal husbandry, Union ministry of agriculture, Dr SK Bandopadhay and including scientists from Pune, Bhopal and Kolkata, had arrived in Imphal yesterday.

The team, which reached Moreh at around 11:30 am, visited both border gates as well as the Moreh land customs office to inspect the implementation of procedures adopted to prevent the import of poultry and poultry products into the state.

The team members also crossed into Myanmar and visited Namphalong market and examined how domestic fowls and other livestock are being sold there.

They were also given a briefing by district administration officials, as well as veterinary deputy director Dr S Thoiba who is stationed at the sub-veterinary office, Moreh, and Mj Chirag of the 24 Assam Rifles on the precautionary measures that have been adopted at Moreh after the bird flu outbreak in Imphal.

Our staff reporter adds: Yesterday, as soon as the expert team led by commissioner of animal husbandry, Union ministry of agriculture, Dr SK Bandopadhay reached Imphal, the team held discussions with top officials of the state veterinary and animal husbandry on the possible sources of the outbreak of avian influenza in Manipur and how it spread out.

It was decided that the team should pay a visit to Moreh, the main border transit point between India and Myanmar for the state, in view of the reported outbreak of bird flu in the neighbouring country earlier this year.

According to the director of state veterinary and animal husbandry department, in Myanmar where the first bird flu outbreak was confirmed, the coutry is still fighting to control the spread of the virus.

But, he clarified, as of now there in no evidence that the source of the outbreak in Imphal was from Myanmar.

Mention may be made that the outbreak of bird flu in Manipur was first confirmed from the sera sample collected from a poultry farm at Chingmeirong in Imphal east on July 24.

With the part of the state veterinary and animal husbandry responding quickly in collaboration with state health department, the state government declared completion of the containment drive within 22 days.

In the meantime, the state forest and environment department has also started taking up necessary precautionary measures and red alert has been sounded in the Loktak area.

According to the officials, there is high chances of the avian influenza virus being carried by migratory birds which flock to Manipur particularly in the Loktak lake during winter season every year.

Ahead of the arrival of migratory birds in different parts of the state importantly at Loktak lake the forest department has alerted its divisions. It has also started organizing awareness campaign.:tiphat:
http://www.kanglaonline.com/index.php?template=headline&newsid=39020&typeid=1​