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

[Shiloh]

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

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

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Bird_flu_Meghalaya_sounds_alert/articleshow/3769945.cms

Bird flu: Meghalaya sounds alert
28 Nov 2008, 1714 hrs IST,

SHILLONG: With authorities in neighbouring Assam ordering culling of poultry after suspected cases of bird flu in its Kamrup district, Meghalaya
on Friday sounded an alert to prevent outbreak of the disease in the state.

State's veterinary officials had a meeting to assess the preparedness and adopt measures to prevent the disease from spreading to the state.

A veterinary official said deputy commissioners of all districts have been asked to be on alert, even as he said there were no cases of suspected bird flu in the state so far.

He also ruled out culling of poultry as of now. Culling of poultry began on Friday in Kamrup district of Assam that shares border with Meghalaya's Ri Bhoi and West Khasi Hills districts.

Meghalaya already has in place 150 rapid response teams along with 2,170 personnel with protective equipment that was procured last year after the outbreak of bird flu in West Bengal.

 

[Shiloh]

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

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

Source: http://www.topnews.in/fresh-bird-flu-outbreak-assam-293712

Fresh Bird Flu Outbreak In Assam
Submitted by Piyush Diwan on Fri, 11/28/2008 - 09:23.

According to the health authorities, a fresh outbreak of bird flu was discovered in Hajo block of Kamrup district in Assam. Since last Saturday, over 200 birds have died in the area.

The state authorities have ordered culling thousands of chicken and ducks.

R. C. Jain, a senior state government official said, ?We were informed that the samples sent to laboratories in Bhopal and Pune have been tested positive. So we have ordered for culling in the area, which will start today.?

"It is H5N1 stain," added the official.

Earlier on Wednesday, the health authorities had imposed a ban on sale of poultry and have sounded a general alert in about 40 villages in a radius of five kilometers from the area where the deaths were reported.

Biswa Das, a resident of an affected area said that a large number of birds were falling sick. "We saw normal birds dying almost instantly without any symptoms. Now we find some of the poultry in the area a little sick," said Das.

While the state government is claiming that 100 birds had died in the block area, unconfirmed reports put the number at 200.

The last outbreak of bird flu in the country was reported in Darjeeling in West Bengal in May.

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

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

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

OIE-report:

http://www.oie.int/wahis/public.php?page=single_report&pop=1&reportid=7567

Location: Hajo, Rajabazar, Kamrup, ASSAM

 

[HenryN]

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

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

http://www.oie.int/wahis/reports/en_imm_0000007566_20081128_154658.pdf

Immediate notification report​

Report reference: , Ref OIE: 7566, Report Date: 28/11/2008 , Country: India​

Report Summary​

Disease​

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Highly pathogenic avian influenza Animal type Terrestrial​

Causal Agent​

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​

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Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus Serotype(s) H5N1​

Clinical Signs​

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Yes Reason Reoccurrence of a listed disease​

Date of first confirmation of the event​

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27/11/2008 Date of Start of Event 21/11/2008​

Date of report​

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​

​

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28/11/2008 Date Submitted To OIE 28/11/2008​

Diagnosis​

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​

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Laboratory (basic), Laboratory (advanced) Date Of Last Occurrence 11/2008​

Number Of Reported Outbreaks​

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Submitted= 1, Draft= 0 Name of Sender of the report Dr Natarajan Gokulram​

Address​

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Dr Rajendra Prasad Road
Room No 231, Krishi Bhawan
New Delhi 110001
New Delhi 110001​

Position​

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Secretary to the Government of India​

Telephone​

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(91-11) 23 38 26 08​

Fax​

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(91-11) 23 38 80 06​

Email​

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​

secyahd@nic.in​

Entered by​

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​

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​

Dr Natarajan Gokulram​

Outbreak (this report - submitted)​

State District Village/Block Unit Type Location Latitude Longitude Start date End Date​

ASSAM Kamrup Rajabazar Village Hajo 26,2 91,15 21/11/2008​

Species Measuring units Susceptible Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered​

Birds Animals 391 324 324 ... ...​

Affected Population​

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​

​

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backyard poultry mainly in a small village​

Outbreak summary: Total outbreaks = 1 (Submitted)​

Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered​

Birds 391 324 324​

Epidemiology​

Epidemiological comments​

Epidemiological investigation is ongoing. Stamping out of all domestic poultry is being applied in an approximately 5-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.
Printed on: Fri Nov 28 15:46:59 Paris, Madrid 2008 Page 1/3
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​

​

​

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? Quarantine
? Movement control inside the country
? Screening​

To be applied​

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​

​

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? Disinfection of infected premises/establishment(s)
? Dipping / Spraying​

Animals treated​

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​

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No​

Vaccination Prohibited​

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​

​

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No​

Country / Zone​

Country or zone​

​

​

​

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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 virus isolation 27/11/2008 Positive
National laboratory High Security Animal Disease Laboratory, Bhopal Birds reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) 27/11/2008 Positive
National laboratory High Security Animal Disease Laboratory, Bhopal Birds real-time PCR 27/11/2008 Positive​

Future Reporting​

What further reports will be submitted in relation to this event?​

There are 1outbreaks 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.
Immediate notification report. Report reference: , Ref OIE: 7566, Report Date: 28/11/2008 , Country: India​

Printed on: Fri Nov 28 15:46:59 Paris, Madrid 2008 Page 2/3

 

[HenryN]

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

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

AVIAN INFLUENZA (112): INDIA (ASSAM), SUSPECTED, ALERT, REQUEST FOR
INFORMATION
*******************************************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Thu 27 Nov 2008
Source: The Hindu, Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) report [edited]
<http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/099200811271431.htm>


Bird flu scare in Assam, 300 poultry dead
-----------------------------------------
More than 300 poultry birds have died in the past 5 days in some
villages in Assam, fuelling fears of bird flu, officials said [in
Guwahati] Wednesday [26 Nov 2008], adding that a general alert was
sounded in the area.

A veterinary department official said up to 300 chicken and ducks
died an unnatural death in some villages around Hajo, about 35 km (22
mi) west of Assam's main city of Guwahati.

"We have sent samples for laboratory tests to Pune and Bangalore for
confirmation. We don't know for sure if the poultry deaths were due
to bird flu," a veterinary department official said requesting not to
be named.

Authorities Wednesday [26 Nov 2008] imposed a ban on sale of poultry
and have sounded a general alert in about 40 villages in a radius of
5 km (3.1 mi) from the area where the deaths were reported.

"By Thursday [27 Nov 2008] we shall be getting the laboratory test
reports and maybe we have to start the culling process as there has
been large-scale reports of deaths coming in from nearby areas,"
Kamrup district magistrate RC Jain said.

"We have imposed a ban on sale and purchase of poultry and have asked
people in the area not to consume chicken or duck as a precautionary
measure."

A general health alert was also sounded in the area. Teams of experts
are now camping in the area and were contemplating culling birds as a
precautionary measure.

Residents of the area said a large number of birds were falling sick.
"We saw normal birds dying almost instantly without any symptoms. Now
we find some of the poultry in the area a little sick," said Biswa
Das, a villager.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Mary Marshall

[For the location of Assam in northeast India, see the map at
<http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/india_pol01.jpg>
and the HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map at
<http://healthmap.org/promed/en?g=1278253&v=26,93,5>.

For a summary of the recent H5N1 outbreak in India (West Bengal and
Tripura), which reportedly started on 4 Jan 2008 and was declared as
resolved on 4 Nov 2008 (no new cases since 11 May 2008), see
<http://www.oie.int/wahis/public.php?page=event_summary&reportid=6678>.

Confirmation of avian influenza or otherwise in Assam is requested. - Mod.AS]

[see also:
Avian influenza, human (60): India (West Bengal), susp. 20080803.2379
Avian influenza (69): S Korea, India (W Bengal) 20080515.1626
Avian influenza (68): Japan, S.Korea, Viet Nam, India 20080511.1605
Avian influenza (64): India (Tripura) 20080423.1434
Avian influenza (59): India (Tripura), South Korea (N Jeolla) 20080408.1295
Avian influenza (48): China, Bangladesh, India, Viet Nam 20080317.1042
Avian influenza (46): India, Viet Nam, Bangladesh 20080314.1013
Avian influenza (42): India (West Bengal) 20080309.0967
Avian influenza (35): UK (England), Indonesia, India, Bangladesh 20080215.0600
Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (02): Turkey, India 20080205.0462
Avian influenza (17): Iran (Mazandaran), India (West Bengal) - OIE
20080119.0235
Avian influenza (14): India (West Bengal) 20080117.0216
Avian influenza (11): India (West Bengal) 20080115.0193
2007
----
Avian influenza (133): India (Manipur): conf., OIE 20070726.2409
Avian influenza (58): Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia 20070322.1008]
........................................arn/mj/jw

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[HenryN]

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

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

Culling operations on in Hajo
</B>[SIZE=-1]Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, Nov 28 ? Culling of poultry in Hajo Revenue Circle areas in the wake of bird flu outbreak at Thakuria Chuba of Rajabazar Village, began this noon with the State Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department deploying 20 Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) to ten villages of the Revenue Circle. Disclosing this, official sources here told The Assam Tribune that altogether 100 persons were involved in the culling operations. Each of the 20 RRTs has been accompanied also by one surveyor (Mandal) of the Kamrup District Administration. The operations will cover 23 villages within an area of 3km radius, said the sources.

Initially, culling operations were proposed to cover an area of 5 km radius around Thakuria Chuba. But the State Government has asked the Veterinary Department to carry out the operations in an area of 3 km radius around the locality, the sources said.

The poultry population being covered under the culling operations include backyard fowls, ducks and geese. A control room has also been set up at the Hajo Suren Das College.

Commenting on the response of the villagers to the culling operations, sources said that initially there was resistance from the people to the culling of their fowls, ducks and geese. However, that resistance could be overcome with long and persistent persuasion, said the sources.

About 9000 backyard birds were killed in ten Hajo villages today and the culling operations are expected to continue for another 4-5 days in the area, said the sources.

Meanwhile, the Veterinary Department has collected more poultry samples from Saralpara village of Palasbari, from where a similar phenomenon of unusual death of backyard poultry has been reported. These samples will be sent to the Bhopal-based High Security Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (HSADL) tomorrow, said the sources.

Poultry samples from the village were sent to the Pune-based National Institute of Virology yesterday for testing and confirmation of the presence of bird flu virus in the diseased poultry population of the village, said the sources.[/SIZE]

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=nov2908/at05

 

[HenryN]

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

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

Bird Flu Back: About 30,000 Poultry to be Culled in Assam

</SPAN>
(IANS)

29 November 2008
<TABLE cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle width=328> </TD><TD class=blk9n align=right width=27>Print</TD><TD align=middle width=35></TD><TD class=blk9n align=right width=46>E-mail</TD><TD align=middle width=24></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
GUWAHATI ? About 30,000 chickens and ducks will be culled in Assam during the next four days as an outbreak of bird flu in poultry has been reported in the state, an official said.

?The entire culling process is expected to be completed in three to four days as our teams are visiting each and every household in the area. We estimate there could be some 30,000 poultry birds in the area where culling is currently underway,? said Manoranjan Choudhury, deputy director of the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1:country-region><st1lace>Assam</st1lace></st1:country-region> veterinary department.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
The Indian health ministry on Thursday confirmed outbreak of bird flu after laboratory tests confirmed strains of the deadly H5N1 avian influenza. <st1:City><st1lace>Sale</st1lace></st1:City> and purchase of poultry has been banned in the state.<o></o>
Choudhury said about 30,000 chickens and ducks would be slaughtered in about 40 villages of Thakurichuba village, about 40 km west of Guwahati. The veterinary personnel were being administered the antiviral drug Tamiflu as a precautionary measure.


http://www.khaleejtimes.com/Display...al_November2129.xml&section=international&col=<o></o>

 

[Diane Morin]

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

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

<TABLE class=formlayout id=apex_layout_271110100662109808 summary=""><TBODY><TR><TD noWrap align=right>Archive Number</TD><TD noWrap align=left>20081128.3749</TD></TR><TR><TD noWrap align=right>Published Date</TD><TD noWrap align=left>28-NOV-2008</TD></TR><TR><TD noWrap align=right>Subject</TD><TD noWrap align=left>PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (113): India (AS), HPAI conf.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

AVIAN INFLUENZA (113): INDIA (ASSAM), HPAI CONFIRMED****************************************************A ProMED-mail post<http://www.promedmail.org>ProMED-mail is a program of theInternational Society for Infectious Diseases<http://www.isid.org>Date: Fri 28 Nov 2008Source: The Telegraph, Calcutta [edited]<http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081128/jsp/northeast/story_10175439.jsp#>The Kamrup district administration tonight [27 Nov 2008] orderedculling of poultry in Rajapara village near Hajo [district of Assam]after tests for bird flu proved positive.Deputy commissioner RC Jain said he was informed of the test resultsthis evening [27 Nov 2008] and accordingly sent out orders to cullthe birds. "We have been ready since yesterday [26 Nov 2008]. But nowthe culling will start tomorrow," Jain said.The administration had sent samples of the dead birds to the HighSecurity Laboratory in Bhopal on Monday [24 Nov 2008] after 324poultry died last week [week of 17 Nov 2008].Jain said Thakuriapara in Rajapara under Hajo police station had 59families, of which 24 rear poultry in their backyard on a commercialscale.The deputy commissioner said 20 teams had been formed to carry outthe culling operations and all the associated paraphernalia were inplace.The movement of birds had earlier been restricted to a radius of 5 km(3.1 mi) of Thakuriapara to prevent the disease from spreading,though till this evening veterinarians only suspected it to be birdflu.A senior veterinary official from Delhi, AB Negi, arrived in Hajoyesterday [26 Nov 2008] for observation and supervision of theoperations if the need arose.Jain said nearly 30 000 birds would be culled. "The entire operationis likely to take about 3 days," he said.For each small chicken culled, a cash compensation of [INR] 20 [USD0.40) would be paid to the owner, while INR 50 [USD 1.00] is the ratefor bigger birds. For ducks, the compensation ranges from INR 75 toINR 160 [USD 1.50 to 3.60] depending on their size and breed. Eachegg that is destroyed, on the other hand, will fetch INR 2 [USD 0.04]as compensation. "We will pay the compensation on the spot," Jainsaid.The official said there was no need to ban the sale of poultryelsewhere in the state because of bird flu in one village.Hajo, which is about 40 km (25 mi) from [Guwahati, Assam state capital], provides a significant part of Guwahati's poultry requirements.--Communicated byroMED-mail Rapporteur Mary Marshall[An additional newswire, with data of the daily mortalities observed in each of the affected holdings, is available at <http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=nov2808/at06>.An official OIE notification on this renewed epizootic in India has been submitted to the OIE on Fri, 28 Nov 2008, including laboratory confirmation of H5N1 and a map; see at<http://www.oie.int/wahis/public.php?page=single_report&pop=1&reportid=7566>.- Mod.AS][India declared to the OIE on 31 Oct 2008 that it was free of bird flu, having resolved its last 2 outbreaks on 11 Apr 2008 -- see:<http://www.oie.int/wahis/public.php?page=event_summary&reportid=6678>India's reports to the OIE do not show any outbreak in West Bengal in July 2008, as reported in the press -- see ProMED archive 20080803.2379 below. - Mod.JW][see also:Avian influenza (112): India (AS), susp., alert, RFI 20081127.3740Avian influenza, human (60): India (West Bengal), susp. 20080803.2379Avian influenza (69): S Korea, India (W Bengal) 20080515.1626Avian influenza (68): Japan, S.Korea, Viet Nam, India 20080511.1605Avian influenza (64): India (Tripura) 20080423.1434Avian influenza (59): India (Tripura), South Korea (N Jeolla) 20080408.1295Avian influenza (48): China, Bangladesh, India, Viet Nam 20080317.1042Avian influenza (46): India, Viet Nam, Bangladesh 20080314.1013Avian influenza (42): India (West Bengal) 20080309.0967Avian influenza (35): UK (England), Indonesia, India, Bangladesh 20080215.0600Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (02): Turkey, India 20080205.0462Avian influenza (17): Iran (Mazandaran), India (West Bengal) - OIE20080119.0235Avian influenza (14): India (West Bengal) 20080117.0216Avian influenza (11): India (West Bengal) 20080115.01932007----Avian influenza (133): India (Manipur): conf., OIE 20070726.2409Avian influenza (58): Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia 20070322.1008]........................................arn/mj/jw*##########################################################*************************************************************ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports thatare posted, but the accuracy and completeness of theinformation, and of any statements or opinions basedthereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks inusing information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISIDand its associated service providers shall not be heldresponsible for errors or omissions or held liable for anydamages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon postedor archived material.************************************************************Become a ProMED-mail Premium Subscriber at<http://www.isid.org/ProMEDMail_Premium.shtml>************************************************************Visit ProMED-mail's web site at <http://www.promedmail.org>.Send all items for posting to: promed@promedmail.org(NOT to an individual moderator). If you do not give yourfull name and affiliation, it may not be posted. Sendcommands to subscribe/unsubscribe, get archives, help,etc. to: majordomo@promedmail.org. For assistance from ahuman being send mail to: [EMAIL="owner-promed@promedmail.org.########################################################################################################################"]owner-promed@promedmail.org.########################################################################################################################[/EMAIL]</PRE>
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[Shiloh]

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

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

SOurce: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081129/jsp/northeast/story_10178879.jsp

Culler?s knife cuts feast hopes to pieces
- Hajo villagers loath to let go of ducks and chicken being fattened for Magh Bihu
ANUPAM BORDOLOI

Rajabazar/Bakta (Hajo), Nov. 28: It is that time of year when ducks feed on fresh off-the-fields husk and gather fat around their supple flesh. Sarita Devi, angry because her duck was just starting to get fat, had been feeding it generously so that it grows ripe and ready for the Magh Bihu feast just one-an-half-months away.

?You have killed my duck. You have also killed our Bihu,? the 46-year-old wife of a farmer shouted at the rapid response team of the veterinary department as they left her courtyard, the dead duck hanging by the neck from one their hands.

As the rapid response teams spread out to the villages in Hajo to start culling of poultry to prevent the spread of bird flu to more areas, distraught people were asking only one question, ?Why??

The culling began around 11.30 this morning at Rajabazar, a minority-dominated village in Kamrup district with around 200 families. The veterinary department has identified this village as the epicentre of the bird flu outbreak and is targeting to cull around 30,000 poultry in a 5km radius of the village. The culling may take at least one week.

For people like Sarita Devi, however, their chicken and ducks looked fine. ?Nobody here has poultry farms. But most people have their own backyard poultry farms with a couple of chicken or duck. There has been no death of poultry here,? said Aminul Haque of Rajabari whose two chicken were culled.

Sarita Devi said her family of six ? husband, three daughters and a son ? had planned to feast on the duck for the Magh Bihu feast. ?We are poor people. Our poultry serves us during times of need. If someone falls ill, we sell one or two of them and use the money for treatment,? she said.

There were others like Ananta Kalita who, however, could understand the need of the hour. A local student leader, Kalita said he has been trying to help the veterinary department by explaining to the people why culling was necessary. ?But these are very poor people and even one hen is like wealth to them,? he said.

The government pays Rs 50 for each full-grown poultry and Rs 20 for a chick.

Manoranjan Chaudhury, the deputy director of the veterinary department who was supervising the culling operations, said: ?We will continue culling at night as most people let out their poultry in the morning. Our teams will stay overnight in the villages to carry out the task.?

While ducks do not fall prey to bird flu, they act as carriers of the deadly H5N1 virus which spreads rapidly once it enters a chicken?s body. Chaudhury said the virus ?has most probably travelled through migratory birds. There are several water bodies in the area and they serve as nesting places of the migratory birds. The local poultry must have come with contact with the migratory birds here,? he said.

The Bhopal-based High Security Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory confirmed the presence of the H5N1 virus in the poultry of the area after testing samples sent by the veterinary department, which was alerted after large number of poultry died over the past one week.

Chaudhury said late tonight that around 1,000 poultry were culled today by 20 rapid response teams. ?We are still collating the figures so the number could vary slightly. We covered 10 villages today.? He added that the speed would pick up from tomorrow when more teams would be pressed into service.
Top

 

[HenryN]

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

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

<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=4 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=articleheader>Culler?s knife cuts feast hopes to pieces
- Hajo villagers loath to let go of ducks and chicken being fattened for Magh Bihu

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=articleauthor>ANUPAM BORDOLOI</TD></TR><TR><TD class=story align=left><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=172 align=left><TBODY><TR><TD> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=articleauthor align=left>Members of the rapid response team cull ducks at Bakta village in Hajo on Friday. Picture by Eastern Projections </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Rajabazar/Bakta (Hajo), Nov. 28: It is that time of year when ducks feed on fresh off-the-fields husk and gather fat around their supple flesh. Sarita Devi, angry because her duck was just starting to get fat, had been feeding it generously so that it grows ripe and ready for the Magh Bihu feast just one-an-half-months away.​

?You have killed my duck. You have also killed our Bihu,? the 46-year-old wife of a farmer shouted at the rapid response team of the veterinary department as they left her courtyard, the dead duck hanging by the neck from one their hands.​

As the rapid response teams spread out to the villages in Hajo to start culling of poultry to prevent the spread of bird flu to more areas, distraught people were asking only one question, ?Why??​

The culling began around 11.30 this morning at Rajabazar, a minority-dominated village in Kamrup district with around 200 families. The veterinary department has identified this village as the epicentre of the bird flu outbreak and is targeting to cull around 30,000 poultry in a 5km radius of the village. The culling may take at least one week.​

For people like Sarita Devi, however, their chicken and ducks looked fine. ?Nobody here has poultry farms. But most people have their own backyard poultry farms with a couple of chicken or duck. There has been no death of poultry here,? said Aminul Haque of Rajabari whose two chicken were culled.​

Sarita Devi said her family of six ? husband, three daughters and a son ? had planned to feast on the duck for the Magh Bihu feast. ?We are poor people. Our poultry serves us during times of need. If someone falls ill, we sell one or two of them and use the money for treatment,? she said.​

There were others like Ananta Kalita who, however, could understand the need of the hour. A local student leader, Kalita said he has been trying to help the veterinary department by explaining to the people why culling was necessary. ?But these are very poor people and even one hen is like wealth to them,? he said.​

The government pays Rs 50 for each full-grown poultry and Rs 20 for a chick.​

Manoranjan Chaudhury, the deputy director of the veterinary department who was supervising the culling operations, said: ?We will continue culling at night as most people let out their poultry in the morning. Our teams will stay overnight in the villages to carry out the task.?​

While ducks do not fall prey to bird flu, they act as carriers of the deadly H5N1 virus which spreads rapidly once it enters a chicken?s body. Chaudhury said the virus ?has most probably travelled through migratory birds. There are several water bodies in the area and they serve as nesting places of the migratory birds. The local poultry must have come with contact with the migratory birds here,? he said.​

The Bhopal-based High Security Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory confirmed the presence of the H5N1 virus in the poultry of the area after testing samples sent by the veterinary department, which was alerted after large number of poultry died over the past one week.​

Chaudhury said late tonight that around 1,000 poultry were culled today by 20 rapid response teams. ?We are still collating the figures so the number could vary slightly. We covered 10 villages today.? He added that the speed would pick up from tomorrow when more teams would be pressed into service.​

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081129/jsp/northeast/story_10178879.jsp​

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

 

[Treyfish]

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

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

12,000 birds culled in Assam after bird flu outbreak




Guwahati, Nov 29 : Authorities in Assam have culled some 12,000 of the estimated 60,000 birds ordered to be killed after an outbreak of the deadly bird flu virus in the region, officials said Saturday.
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Culling operations are on in the district of Kamrup since Friday and so far about 12,000 chickens and ducks were killed, Manoranjan Choudhury, deputy director of Assam's veterinary department, told IANS.

The culling is being carried out in 48 villages within a five kilometre radius of village Thakurchuba in Kamrup district, about 40 km west of Assam's main city of Guwahati.

The poultry targeted includes ducks and chickens. About 20 Rapid Response Teams comprising about seven personnel, including a veterinarian, are engaged in the operation that is expected to continue for about a week until the entire area is depopulated of the estimated 60,000 poultry, Parthajyoti Gogoi, a central health ministry official said.

The Indian health ministry Thursday confirmed the outbreak of bird flu after laboratory tests confirmed strains of the deadly H5N1 avian influenza. More than 300 birds died in the past one week in the area. Assam's veterinary and animal husbandry department has sounded an alert and is maintaining strict surveillance on farms in the state with veterinarians carrying out checks on all poultry.

A central health ministry team is also assisting the local authorities in the culling operations. We have taken all precautionary health measures as well in the area to ensure than humans are not affected, Gogoi said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) fears that the H5N1 strain could mutate into a form easily transmitted between humans and spark a deadly pandemic. Sale and purchase of poultry in the area was banned.:tiphat:http://www.newkerala.com/topstory-fullnews-53261.html
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[Giuseppe]

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

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

India: Assam bird flu due to migratory birds: Ramadoss

Assam bird flu due to migratory birds: Ramadoss

November 29th, 2008 - 3:33 pm ICT by IANS
Chennai, Nov 29 (IANS)

Migratory birds are behind the fresh outbreak of bird flu in Assam, Indian Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said Saturday, adding that culling operations had started in the northeastern state and ?inter-country bird movements are under close scrutiny?.


?Yes, we are concerned and this new outbreak is mainly due to migratory birds,? Ramadoss told IANS.

?We are taking measures to control it, and let me assure that everything is under control. A team from the central health ministry has already gone to Assam and is helping authorities there,? he added.

The minister said he has been keeping a close eye on the development and was closely monitoring the situation along with the animal husbandry department, which is under the central agricultural ministry.

He said all possible help would be provided to the state government in terms of human resource, medicine, masks and other preventive measures.

On Thursday, the outbreak of bird flu in Assam was confirmed after laboratory tests confirmed strains of the deadly H5N1 avian influenza. More than 300 birds died in the past week in Kamrup district of Assam.

?The culling operation has started and inter country bird movements are under close scrutiny,? the minister said, adding that the bird flu outbreaks in the past had helped India ?gain experience to handle such situation?.

Asked about the frequent bird flu outbreaks in India, Ramadoss said: ?Winter is a favourable period for the spread of bird flu. These migratory birds come southwards (to India) from other countries.?

While saying that there is ?no need to panic?, he added that these ?migratory bird movements cannot be stopped completely?.

Meanwhile, authorities in Assam have culled over 12,000 of the estimated 60,000 birds to be killed.

The culling of ducks and chicken is being carried out in 48 villages within a 5 km radius of village Thakurchuba in Kamrup district, about 40 km west of Assam?s main city of Guwahati.

About 20 Rapid Response Teams, each comprising about seven personnel including a veterinarian, are engaged in the culling that is expected to continue for about a week until the entire area is sanitized.

India has witnessed several outbreaks of bird flu earlier in states like Maharashtra, West Bengal and a few northeastern states.

India has been pointing fingers at Bangladesh and Thailand for the spread of the disease.
-
​

<cite cite="http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/assam-bird-flu-due-to-migratory-birds-ramadoss_100125124.html">Assam bird flu due to migratory birds: Ramadoss</cite>

 

[HenryN]

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

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

Home > News > more-news
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Bird flu outbreak in Assam, culling operations on




Kamrup (Assam), Nov 29 : Authorities in Assam have started culling chicken and [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]ducks[/COLOR][/COLOR] since Friday following a fresh outbreak of [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]bird [COLOR=blue! important]flu[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] in poultry.
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According to official reports samples have been sent to laboratories in Bhopal and some have tested positive for the H5N1 stain.

"We have started culling the birds, till now we have found 61 birds with the infection, we have killed them and buried them also," said Moloy Bharali, a culling officer.

Culling officers are going from house to house urging the villagers to hand over their [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]poultry[/COLOR][/COLOR].

The villagers have also been promised a compensation of 20 rupees per chicken, 50 rupees per hen, 35 rupees for a duckling and 70 rupees for a duck.

Villagers like Mohammad Muktar though initially reluctant, gave away their poultry when culling officers made them understand the consequences.

"We are dependent on these birds and chickens for a livelihood. Poor people like us sell the eggs and make a livelihood and if these birds are killed, we will make huge loses, but we have given the birds to the officers because we understand that it would be dangerous if the infection catches human beings," said Muktar.

According to official reports, over 30,000 chickens and ducks would be slaughtered in the next three days in 20 villages, after one of them was hit by bird flu.

India has not reported any human infections so far, though the first outbreak in poultry was reported in 2006 in Maharashtra.

Expert's fear the H5N1 strain could mutate into a form easily transmitted from person to person, leading to a pandemic.
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http://www.newkerala.com/topstory-fullnews-53476.html


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[Commonground]

India - Bird flu detected at Hajo

India - Bird flu detected at Hajo

Bird flu detected at Hajo in State

GUWAHATI, Nov 27?Dreaded bird flue has struck the State. Official circles here said that the Bhopal-based High Security Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (HSADL) confirmed this evening the outbreak of the disease among the domesticated fowls of Thakuria Chuba of Rajabazar village under Hajo Revenue Circles of Kamrup district. This is the first case of outbreak of the dreaded disease in the State, said the sources.

Reports of unusual death of fowls in the area started coming since November 21. Meanwhile, reports of unusual death of fowls have also been received from parts of Sarpara village of Palasbari in the same district. The State Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department has already sent samples collected from the Palasbari birds to the HSADL, said the sources.
(more)

Samples collected from the Hajo area were sent to the HSADL on November 23 for confirmation. The experts of the Northeast Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (NERDDL) here collected the samples on November 21 and 22. The NERDDL also conducted preliminary tests on the samples collected on November 21.

The Directorate of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry here received reports of unusual death of domesticated birds from Thakuria Chuba, a locality inhabited by 25 families, on November 21. In the locality 87 fowls were reported dead on November 21. Of the birds, 62 were adult ones.

The next day, 66 birds were reported dead (48 adults), followed by 92 (56 adults) on November 23, 20 (12 adults) on November 24, 27 (19 adults) on November 25 and 32 (17 adults) on November 26. It is believed that at present there are around 100 fowls left in the locality, said the sources.

Now, since the HSADL has confirmed occurrence of the disease in Thakuria Chuba, culling operations will be taken up in an area of 5-km radius around the locality to create a bird-free zone so as to prevent spread of the disease to other areas, the sources said.

On the steps taken so far by the Directorate to prevent spread of the disease to other areas, sources said that immediately after receiving the information of the unusual death of the birds in the locality, a team of experts from the NERDDL headed by the in-charge of the Laboratory, rushed to the spot and took preventive measures and collected bio specimen and tested them at the NERDDL.

The experts collected morbid and sera samples from the area on November 22 and communicated the report of the development to the authorities concerned in the State and the Central Governments that day. The samples collected from the Hajo area were sent to the HSADL, Bhopal by special messenger with intimation to the Joint Commissioner (LHS) of the Central Government on November 23.

This was followed by the despatching of six Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) to the spot and necessary instructions were issued. The Department, in close association with the civil authorities, has been closely monitoring the overall situation in the area. The local people have also been made aware of the safe practices of poultry handling and proper disposal of the last remains of the dead birds.

On November 25, the Joint Commissioner (LHS) of the Union Government arrived at the city and held discussions with the departmental officers, State?s Veterinary Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners of both the Kamrup (Metro) and Kamrup districts. The Joint Commissioner also reviewed the situation on ground.

As per the direction of the Joint Commissioner (LHS), bio specimens from high mortality area were sent to the Pune-based National Institute of Virology by a special messenger and poultry population in the 0-5 km and 5-10 area around Thakuria Chuba were also calculated, said the sources.

 

[mixin]

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

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

This article is from June, reporting on how hard the Bangladesh poultry farmers have been hit.
-----------------------------------------------
Very few poultry farmers still in business 16 Jun 2008
Out of over 23,000 poultry farms shut down during the bird flu outbreak in Bangladesh in 2007, only 4,210 have managed to resume production in the past few months.

Approx. 5 mln people lost their jobs in the country due to the closure of poultry farms, said the Poultry Industries Coordination Committee. Due to high interest rates at the banks in the region, many poultry farmers have been unable to take loans from commercial banks. This, added to the increasing cost of feed, has made it impossible for many to sustain a business.

"The normal interest rate in commercial banks is between 12 and 18%. If we take loans at this rate we shall not be able to make any profit under the existing circumstances," said owner of Aqua Land Agro Complex, Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan.

After incurring losses in the poultry business, many poultry farm owners have rented out their farms and unit space to the factories, pesticide companies and training institutes as they receive a better income than running a poultry facility.

Only 8 out of 97 poultry farms stretching an area from Bishmail to Jirabo are currently in operation.

To add to the situation, it is also reported that many poultry farm owners are yet to get compensation for culling birds at their farms during the bird flu outbreak.

http://www.worldpoultry.net/news/news/very-few-poultry-farmers-still-in-business-id2636.html

 

[Giuseppe]

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

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

AVIAN INFLUENZA, POULTRY VS MIGRATORY BIRDS (11): INDIA (ASSAM)
***************************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Sat 29 Nov 2008
Source: SindhToday.net [edited]
<http://www.sindhtoday.net/south-asia/39846.htm>


Migratory birds are behind the fresh outbreak of bird flu in Assam,
Indian Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said Saturday [29 Nov 2008],
adding that culling operations had started in the northeastern state
and that inter-country bird movements are under close scrutiny. "Yes,
we are concerned, and this new outbreak is mainly due to migratory
birds," Ramadoss told IANS. "We are taking measures to control it,
and let me assure you that everything is under control. A team from
the central health ministry has already gone to Assam and is helping
authorities there," he added.

The minister said he has been keeping a close eye on the development
and was closely monitoring the situation along with the animal
husbandry department, which is under the central agricultural
ministry. He said all possible help would be provided to the state
government in terms of human resources, medicines, masks and other
preventive measures.

On Thursday [27 Nov 2008], the outbreak of bird flu in Assam was
confirmed after laboratory tests confirmed strains of the deadly H5N1
avian influenza. More than 300 birds died in the past week in Kamrup
district of Assam. "The culling operation has started, and
inter-country bird movements are under close scrutiny," the minister
said, adding that the bird flu outbreaks in the past had helped India
gain experience to handle such situations. Asked about the frequent
bird flu outbreaks in India, Ramadoss said: "Winter is a favourable
period for the spread of bird flu. These migratory birds come
southwards (to India) from other countries." While saying that there
is "no need to panic," he added that these migratory bird movements
cannot be stopped completely.

Meanwhile, authorities in Assam have culled over 12 000 of the
estimated 60 000 birds to be killed. The culling of ducks and
chickens is being carried out in 48 villages within a 5-km radius of
village Thakurchuba in Kamrup district, about 40 km west of Assam's
main city of Guwahati. About 20 Rapid Response Teams, each comprising
about 7 personnel including a veterinarian, are engaged in the
culling that is expected to continue for about a week until the
entire area is sanitized.

India has witnessed several outbreaks of bird flu earlier in states
like Maharashtra, West Bengal and a few northeastern states. India
has been pointing fingers at Bangladesh and Thailand for the spread
of the disease.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Mary Marshall

[While it is not impossible that this outbreak in Assam in northeast
India might be due to migratory birds, there is as yet very little
evidence for them playing a meaningful part in the epidemiology of
this disease, in fact, rather to the contrary, as commercial
movements of poultry and such have been found to be the consistent
cause. If one goes to the OIE-WAHID page for disease outbreaks by
month and enter Bangladesh (there is no ability to enter Assam, so
one is forced to use the neighbouring country of Bangladesh), you
will see that November-December 2007 is the apparent start for HPAI
outbreaks in that region.

See Avian influenza (114): India (AS) HPAI OIE 20081129.3757 and
<http://www.oie.int/wahis/public.php...&selected_end_month=12&selected_end_year=2008>.

More detailed genomic analysis will show where this recent Assam HPAI
strain is most likely from. - Mod.MHJ]

[see also:
Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (10): Pakistan 20081117.3629
Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (09): northern pintails
20081028.3406
Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (08): swans 20080814.2517
Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (07): Canada 20080613.1876
Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (06): UK 20080611.1840
Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (05): Chinese origin 20080319.1063
Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (04) 20080217.0635
Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (03) 20080212.0557
Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (02): Turkey, India 20080205.0462
Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds: Turkey (Zonguldak) 20080126.0325]
.....................................................jw/mhj/msp/lm
-
http://apex.oracle.com/pls/otn/f?p=..._BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1000,74967
-----

</pre>

 

[mixin]

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

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

While saying that there is "no need to panic," he added that these migratory bird movements cannot be stopped completely.

That comment bothers me very much. The word "completely" implies they either already have, or will have plans/ideas to interfere with migration.

 

[HenryN]

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

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

That comment bothers me very much. The word "completely" implies they either already have, or will have plans/ideas to interfere with migration.

Please. H5N1 is stopped in wild birds with false negatives.

 

[HenryN]

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

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

Bird Flu: 27000 chicks culled in Assam


Tags: Bird Flu , Assam , Rangiya


<SUP>Published: Mon, 01 Dec 2008 at 11:18 IST</SUP>




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<SCRIPT type=text/javascript> var newscripts=new virtualpaginate("virtualpage", 1, "p") //Let script know you're using "p" tags as separator (instead of default "div") newscripts.buildpagination("scriptspaginate") </SCRIPT>Rangiya, Dec 1: With the outbreak of bird-flu in Assam confirmed, as many as 27,000 chicken were culled at Rangiya Circle in Kamrup (Rural) district to prevent spread of the disease to other districts.

More than 13,000 chickens will be culled over the next four days as the authorities are gearing up to check the menace which originated from the Hajo Revenue Circle of Kamrup (Rural) district, official sources said.

Above 3,000 chicks were culled at Gerua and Abhaypur, but residents have protested against the state Veterinary department's decision to do so in these places.

The Joint Commissioner of the state veterinary department N Negi is camping in Rangiya to take stock of the situation.

Sale and purchase of poultry were banned and Section 144 CrPC was imposed in the district to prevent spread of the disease, the sources said.

Compensation would be paid to the poultry farm owners as per the government rules.

http://www.samaylive.com/news/bird-flu-27000-chicks-culled-in-assam/600348.html

 

[HenryN]

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

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

Culling is WELL beyond 5 km radius.
Updated map

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=U...=25.962984,91.604004&spn=2.23222,2.834473&z=8