India: H5N1 avian influenza reported in poultry in Kottayam and Alappuzha, Kerala

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: India: H5N1 avian influenza reported in poultry in Kottayam and Alappuzha, Kerala

Highly pathogenic avian influenza,
India

Information received on 27/11/2014 from Mr Anup Kumar Thakur, Secretary, Government of India, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, New Delhi, India


Causal agent - Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus
Serotype - H5N1

Link to full OIE-report

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: India: H5N1 avian influenza reported in poultry in Kottayam and Alappuzha, Kerala

Culling of birds to be completed in 3 days: Kerala government
By PTI | 28 Nov, 2014, 12.55PM IST

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala government today decided to complete within three days culling of birds hit by H5N1, the strain of avian influenza that has killed thousands of ducks in three districts and stepped up preventive measures to check its spread to human beings.
...
Making it clear that there was no need for panic, Health Minister V S Sivakumar said health officials had examined around 14,000 persons in the affected areas and found no symptoms of the disease among them.

However, as a precautionary measure, fluid samples of two persons engaged in culling operations were taken and sent for tests, he said.

Till now more than 18,000 birds, mostly ducks, had been killed, he said,
...

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...ofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

With farmers opposed to culling, will Kerala be able to contain the bird flu outbreak?
by G Pramod Kumar Nov 28, 2014 16:01 IST

...
Despite the decision to cull all the ducks and chicken within a kilometre of the places where the disease has been reported, the risk of its spread and its transmission to humans appears real because of poor preventive steps. TV footage shows farmers handling the dead ducks barehand while the preventive guidelines recommend full body suits. Apparently, they had been given gloves, but most of them are not using it. They are both culling and burning the ducks without any protection.
...
http://www.firstpost.com/india/with...to-contain-the-bird-flu-outbreak-1826365.html

KOTTAYAM, November 28, 2014
Updated: November 28, 2014 21:00 IST
Culling of birds continues in Kottayam
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

The culling operations in the district continued for the second day on Thursday even as the negative results for the samples sent from three panchayats in the district added a new twist to the already vexed issue.

According to Sasidharan Nair, district animal husbandry officer, the total number of birds culled during the two days has been put at 4,173 ducks and 1,343 broiler chicken in the district.

Meanwhile, the Avian Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL) at Thiruvalla has found the samples sent from the three panchayats of Thalayazham, Vechoor and Chengalam negative for avian flu.
...
http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...irds-continues-in-kottayam/article6642155.ece

KERALA

KOCHI, November 28, 2014
Updated: November 28, 2014 21:00 IST
Kill birds humanely, State told

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

The “inhumane” culling of ducks in Kerala has invited the attention of the Animal Welfare Board of India.

The board has asked the State Animal Husbandry Department to adopt humane culling practices for containing avian influenza.

The killing of birds by setting them on fire, as done in some areas, was in violation of provisions of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
...
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kill-birds-humanely-state-told/article6642093.ece

 

[Shiloh]

Re: India: H5N1 avian influenza reported in poultry in Kottayam and Alappuzha, Kerala

Source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/1411...n1-confirmed-kottayam-vet-two-others-feverish

H5N1 confirmed in Kottayam; vet, two others feverish
DC CORRESPONDENT | November 29, 2014, 05.11 am IST

Kottayam: The District Medical Office here has confirmed that H5 N1 virus caused the death of the birds in Kumarakom and Aymanam.

Meanwhile, a veterinary surgeon, Kuriakose Mathew, who was part of the team culling the birds, and two workers were under observation at the district hospital after they suffered from fever.

Dr George S. Palamattam, hospital superintendent, said that their blood samples were sent to the national laboratory in Manipal...

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: India: H5N1 avian influenza reported in poultry in Kottayam and Alappuzha, Kerala; vet, 2 others feverish

Re: India: H5N1 avian influenza reported in poultry in Kottayam and Alappuzha, Kerala; vet, 2 others feverish

Bird Flu: Kerala Begins Culling, But Contaminated Surroundings Remain A Worry

November 29, 2014

(.........)

More than 400 squads in Kerala have been deployed for the culling operations. The first phase will target ducks in affected areas and the second phase would include all fowls within the 1 km radius.

Sale and consumption of ducks and eggs in the affected areas is banned and is under close scrutiny

Despite awareness efforts by government health workers, the primary threat to humans is through physical contact with infected birds. According to field workers, contaminated surroundings remain a challenge, with dead ducks lying strewn in several paddy fields and unaccounted breeding.

District Collector of Alappuzha N Padmakumar says, "2000 health workers have been visiting homes in this district to talk to people and spread awareness. Medicines and separate wards in hospitals are ready for emergency of any untoward situation. We are doing our best and everything is under control. There is nothing to worry about."

More : NDTV

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: India: H5N1 avian influenza reported in poultry in Kottayam and Alappuzha, Kerala; vet, 2 others feverish

Re: India: H5N1 avian influenza reported in poultry in Kottayam and Alappuzha, Kerala; vet, 2 others feverish

Culling continues in Alappuzha
SARATH BABU GEORGE

The culling of ducks in areas, where the outbreak of avian influenza H5N1 was confirmed, was intensified in the district on Friday.

According to official sources, the 50 rapid task force teams, consisting of 500 personnel, managed to cull 21,279 ducks until Friday evening.
...
Unlike in the previous days, the authorities managed to keep local residents and farmers off the culling process. Concerns were raised by various quarters after the residents partook in the efforts without consuming preventive medicines and wearing protective gears.
...
Meanwhile, there were reports of dead birds, including ducks and chickens, in various parts that had remained unaffected so far. However, the Animal Husbandry department was yet to confirm the exact number of deaths.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-pape...ing-continues-in-alappuzha/article6645782.ece

Culling continues despite rain
RADHAKRISHNAN KUTTOOR


Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) deployed by the Animal Husbandry Department (AHD) killed around 650 ducks at Vengal Alamthuruthy in the upper Kuttanad village of Peringara as part of the culling drive on Friday.

The AHD culling mission was part of the Government of India protocol in the wake of the death of 200 ducks belonging to a farmer at Vengal Irukara paddy fields of avian influenza on Tuesday. The culled birds were incinerated at an open field at Vamanapuram. Local people too assisted the RRT members in the process. Revenue Divisional Officer A. Gopakumar, the co-ordinator of the anti-disease drive, was present.
...
The culling began only at 2.30 p.m. following a dispute among the AHD officials and the revenue-panchayat staff over the method of culling.
...
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-pape...ing-continues-despite-rain/article6645777.ece

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: India: H5N1 avian influenza reported in poultry in Kottayam and Alappuzha, Kerala; vet, 2 others feverish

Re: India: H5N1 avian influenza reported in poultry in Kottayam and Alappuzha, Kerala; vet, 2 others feverish

November 30, 2014

Bird culling in Kerala in final phase

The bird culling operations to contain the outbreak of avian influenza in Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Pathanamthitta districts entered the last phase on Saturday, even as the government maintained that the H5N1 virus had not infected humans in the State.

The Health Department is awaiting the results of two more human samples sent for analysis. Two human samples earlier sent to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had shown negative results for the H5N1 virus. Director of Health Services P.K. Jameela said the samples were collected not as suspected cases, but as part of the surveillance mechanism in place. She said only the members of culling teams or bird handlers with fever symptoms were considered at high risk.

More: The Hindu

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: India: H5N1 avian influenza reported in poultry in Kottayam and Alappuzha, Kerala; vet, 2 others feverish

Re: India: H5N1 avian influenza reported in poultry in Kottayam and Alappuzha, Kerala; vet, 2 others feverish

KERALA

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, November 30, 2014
Updated: November 30, 2014 02:00 IST
Bird culling in Kerala in final phase

T. NANDAKUMAR
...

The Health Department is awaiting the results of two more human samples sent for analysis. Two human samples earlier sent to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had shown negative results for the H5N1 virus. Director of Health Services P.K. Jameela said the samples were collected not as suspected cases, but as part of the surveillance mechanism in place. She said only the members of culling teams or bird handlers with fever symptoms were considered at high risk.

The Animal Husbandry Department expects to wind up the culling operations by Sunday or Monday. As many as 70,431 birds were killed till Saturday morning. The number crossed one lakh by evening.
...
http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...-final-phase/article6647172.ece?homepage=true

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: India: H5N1 avian influenza reported in poultry in Kottayam and Alappuzha, Kerala; vet, 2 others feverish

Re: India: H5N1 avian influenza reported in poultry in Kottayam and Alappuzha, Kerala; vet, 2 others feverish

Avian flu outbreak in Kerala under control, humans test negative

Sunday, November 30, 2014

The culling operations will almost end by Sunday evening and around two lakh (200,000) poultry birds would have been culled in these 12 affected villages.

The avian flu outbreak, confirmed as the H5N1 virus, in three districts of Kerala is coming under control while two human samples have now been cleared as negative, said an official on Sunday.
...
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/mobile/...ational_November688.xml&section=international

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: India: H5N1 avian influenza reported in poultry in Kottayam and Alappuzha, Kerala; vet, 2 others feverish

Re: India: H5N1 avian influenza reported in poultry in Kottayam and Alappuzha, Kerala; vet, 2 others feverish

No duck farming for 6 months in affected areas



Alapuzha: The bird flu infected Kuttanad region cannot undertake farming of ducks for a period of 6 months. As per the protocol laid down by international standards, no rearing of ducks can be done in the infected region till the three preventive phases are over. This will take about 6 months and duck farners are sure to feel the heat.

In Kuttanad, poultry farming, especially rearing of ducks, is a major source of income for farmers.

In the bird-flu affected areas, steps to confirm that the area is completely free of bird flu may take a few months right from culling of birds till making certain that all birds are free of virus.
...
http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/...ng-for-6-months-in-affected-areas-155208.html

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: India: H5N1 avian influenza reported in poultry in Kottayam and Alappuzha, Kerala; vet, 2 others feverish

Re: India: H5N1 avian influenza reported in poultry in Kottayam and Alappuzha, Kerala; vet, 2 others feverish

No human case so far: Chandy

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

As of Sunday, there is no instance of H5N1 infection among the people living in the avian flu-infected areas of Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts, according to a review of the situation done by Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy here.

Briefing the media after the review meeting, Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar said health workers had visited more than 81,000 houses in the avian flu-infected areas.

They had not come across any instance of symptoms of H5N1 infection. Six samples were sent for laboratory analysis, of which results were forthcoming for three and all three were negative.
...
Minister for Agriculture and Animal Husbandry K.P. Mohanan said more than 1.82 lakh ducks had been killed in the areas infected by avian flu. The culling operation would be completed by Monday.

He said an estimated 2.5 lakh ducks would have to be culled totally. There were no signs as yet of the disease having spread to new areas.
...
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/no-human-case-so-far-chandy/article6649397.ece

 

[Shiloh]

Re: India: H5N1 avian influenza reported in poultry in Kottayam and Alappuzha, Kerala; vet, 2 others feverish

Re: India: H5N1 avian influenza reported in poultry in Kottayam and Alappuzha, Kerala; vet, 2 others feverish

Source: http://www.newindianexpress.com/sta...u-Confirmed-in-Chennithala/article2548924.ece


Bird Flu Confirmed in Chennithala
By Express News Service
Published: 01st December 2014 06:08 AM
Last Updated: 01st December 2014 06:08 AM


ALAPPUZHA: A test has confirmed the presence of H5N1 influenza virus in Chennithala panchayat here on Sunday. The brain samples of a duck collected from Chennithala has tested positive, and the Rapid Response Team constituted by the Animal Husbandry Department began the culling of ducks on Sunday. A test carried out two days ago in the AHD laboratory in Thiruvananthapuram had been found negative.

However, the department carried out another test at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bengaluru, which confirmed the presence of the virus. District Collector N Padmakumar said the AHD Department has begun culling of the birds in the area...

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: India: H5N1 avian influenza reported in poultry in Kottayam and Alappuzha, Kerala; vet, 2 others feverish

Re: India: H5N1 avian influenza reported in poultry in Kottayam and Alappuzha, Kerala; vet, 2 others feverish

KERALA
KOTTAYAM, December 1, 2014
Culling concludes in Kumarakom panchayat
...
The sample from a person sent to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Laboratory in New Delhi had been tested negative, she said.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-pape...des-in-kumarakom-panchayat/article6650410.ece

Nearly 2.60 lakh ducks culled in Kerala after outbreak of bird flu
PTI | December 01, 2014, 18.12 pm IST

Thiruvananthapuram: Nearly 2.60 lakh ducks had been culled since November 26 after the outbreak of H5NI virus in three affected districts of Kerala, where no person was found infected, Minister for Animal Husbandry K P Mohanan said on Monday.

Making a statement in the House under rule 300, he said preventive measures taken by government to check the spread of the disease to human beings included checks carried out on more than three lakh persons in the affected districts of Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta.

No person was found to have been infected, he said.
...
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/1412...h-ducks-culled-kerala-after-outbreak-bird-flu

Bird flu: Rapid Response team use outdated protective gears for culling

Posted by Revathy bignews
Story Dated : December 1, 2014

Alappuzha: The protective equipments used by the task force for culling the bird flu infected ducks is one that had crossed the expiry date three years ago. The kit of five accessories are handed over to the Rapid Response team members after tearing off the portion which marked the expiry date as 2011.
...
The cover specially instructs that the equipment once used should be instantly burned up. The protective gear manufactured in February 2008 bears the expiry date of January 2011. Five thousand kits were brought to Alapuzha from Delhi.
...
http://www.bignewslive.in/bird-flu-...ed-protective-gears-for-culling/#.VHzTpDHF_mc

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: India: H5N1 avian influenza reported in poultry in Kottayam and Alappuzha, Kerala; vet, 2 others feverish

Re: India: H5N1 avian influenza reported in poultry in Kottayam and Alappuzha, Kerala; vet, 2 others feverish

December 3, 2014

Mass death of ducks in Kottayam

Nearly 500 ducks died in places near Kottayam municipal area

Reports of fresh incidence of mass death of ducks are being reported from parts of the district bordering Kuttanad, even as the culling operations in the sites of earlier outbreaks came to a close on Tuesday.

According to farmers, nearly 500 ducks have died in Vilakkumadom area near Pallom bordering Kottayam municipal area on Tuesday. Deaths have been reported from Vazhappally area near Changanassery also. There has been no confirmation that the deaths were due to avian flu.

Meanwhile, District Animal Husbandry officer Saseendran Nair said they have already visited the area and samples have been sent to Avian Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Thiruvalla. Results are expected within two days, he said.

The Hindu

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: India: H5N1 avian influenza reported in poultry in Kottayam and Alappuzha, Kerala; vet, 2 others feverish

Re: India: H5N1 avian influenza reported in poultry in Kottayam and Alappuzha, Kerala; vet, 2 others feverish

KERALA
ALAPPUZHA, December 3, 2014
Avian flu: Kudumbasree workers to be roped in for containment
...

Farmers with dead ducks at Vilakkumadom, near Pallom, where nearly 500 ducks died on Tuesday.? Photo: By Special arrangement (the Hindu)

Meanwhile, the culling of ducks at Karuvatta, which is nearly 10 km away from Haripad, has raised protests from duck farmers in the region. Of the samples collected from six places in Upper Kuttanad, only those from Chennithala Thripperumthura grama panchayat tested positive for avian influenza.

However, the rapid task force teams have commenced the culling operations at Karuvatta, much to the annoyance of the local farming community. Official sources claim that the efforts were being undertaken owing to the proximity of the area with the affected area of Chennithala. On the other hand, farmers argue that the efforts did not comply with the original plan of restricting culling to within 1 km of the affected point.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-pape...e-roped-in-for-containment/article6657263.ece

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: India: H5N1 avian influenza reported in poultry in Kottayam and Alappuzha, Kerala; vet, 2 others feverish

Re: India: H5N1 avian influenza reported in poultry in Kottayam and Alappuzha, Kerala; vet, 2 others feverish

Confirmation of Avian Influenza in Chennithala Panchayat of district Alappuzha in Kerala
http://dahd.nic.in/dahd/WriteReadDa...Panchayat of district Alappuzha in Kerala.pdf





OIE Report;
03/12/2014: Highly pathogenic avian influenza, India, (Follow-up report No. 2)
http://www.oie.int/wahis_2/public/w...?page_refer=MapFullEventReport&reportid=16671

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: India: H5N1 avian influenza reported in poultry in Kottayam and Alappuzha, Kerala

Confirmation of Avian Influenza in Vilakkumaram of district Kottayam in Kerala
http://dahd.nic.in/dahd/WriteReadDa...lakkumaram of district Kottayam in Kerala.pdf

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: India: H5N1 avian influenza reported in poultry in Kottayam and Alappuzha, Kerala

OIE Notification of Vilakkumaram outbreak.
04/12/2014: Highly pathogenic avian influenza, India, (Follow-up report No. 3)
http://www.oie.int/wahis_2/public/w...?page_refer=MapFullEventReport&reportid=16680

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: India: H5N1 avian influenza reported in poultry in Kottayam and Alappuzha, Kerala

Bird flu: 5 of 7 human swabs test negative

| Dec 8, 2014

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Five of the seven human swab samples sent to the national centre for disease control (NCDC) in New Delhi have tested negative for the bird flu virus. The results of the remaining two samples are expected to be known in two days.

As per a review conducted by the health department, no human transmission of the virus has been reported from any of the affected areas so far and the spread of bird flu is totally under control.

"As per protocol, the surveillance on people has to be continued till 14 days from the day the flu is reported from an area. The surveillance period is coming to an end in many places," said state nodal officer Dr Amar Fettle.

However, the health department is continuing with the house to house monitoring of people. "The health teams have till date visited 2,52,928 houses in three bird flu hit districts. Of the 9.26,147 people screened, 2,791 were detected with mild fever. However, no one has developed any symptoms of bird flu," said additional director of health service Dr A S Pradeep Kumar.

The swab samples of the five persons who showed symptoms of fever were sent for testing at the NCDC. The other two were those who were involved in culling and had close exposure with the ducks.

"Some members of the animal husbandry department who were involved in the culling process have also developed fever symptoms. They are under surveillance and have been housed at the camps set up in the flu-hit regions," said Fettle.

Times of India

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: India: H5N1 avian influenza reported in poultry in Kottayam and Alappuzha, Kerala

Culling Over, But Sick Ducks Still Alive
By Express News Service Published: 09th December 2014 06:06 AM Last Updated: 09th December 2014 09:01 AM

KOTTAYAM: Even as the district administration claimed that the Rapid Response Team (RRT) personnel could contain the avian influenza threat in the district by completing the culling of virus infected birds and successfully carrying out preventive measures, ?Express? has found that ducks are still alive within the limits of disease detected areas.

Moreover, people living at a stone?s throw away from the virus-infected Kottayam municipality, said that no one from any of the government agencies, including the Health Department has so far visited their area.

According to the District Animal Husbandry department, all birds in the one kilometre distance from the epicentre of the affected area, have been culled to prevent the spread of the disease.

However, ?Express? spotted many ducks along Kodoor river and at Vilakkumaram backwaters, with symptoms of avian influenza, nearly 100 metres away from Pallom lighthouse, where the culling was conducted a couple of days ago. Local people said there are no takers for these ducks following the outbreak of the disease.
...
http://www.newindianexpress.com/sta...cks-Still-Alive/2014/12/09/article2562412.ece

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: India: H5N1 avian influenza reported in poultry in Kottayam and Alappuzha, Kerala

Bird flu: H5N1 virus contained in Kerala, ban lifted on poultry movement

Wednesday, 17 December 2014 - 5:35pm IST | Place: Thiruvananthapuram | Agency: PTI

Kerala government today lifted all restrictions imposed on the movement of poultry in the wake of bird flu outbreak reported in parts of Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts following the successful containment of H5NI virus in the affected areas.

"Avian flu has been completely brought under control and the affected areas are totally virus free. So restrictions imposed on the transportation and consumption of poultry, including ducks, have been lifted," State Animal Husbandry Minister K P Mohanan told reporters here.
...
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/repor...kerala-ban-lifted-on-poultry-movement-2044769