India: Second phase of anti-bird flu operations ends

[Niko]

Second phase of anti-bird flu operations ends The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Aug 10: The second phase of control and containment operations taken up to prevent the spread of avian influenza, consisting of mopping, cleaning and disinfection, winded up today.

With the completion of the second phase, all members of the RRTs of the department have been confined in quarantine at the veterinary hospital, Sanjenthong for seven days from today.

This is being done for observation purposes and in line with the guidelines laid down for tackling cases of avian influenza, according to veterinary department sources.

A total of 135 veterinary staff have been engaged in culling of birds within an area of 5 km radius from the Chingmeirong farm where the avian influenza outbreak occurred since July 26 till August 2, in which altogether 3,31,606 birds were slaughtered.

6200 birds which had been missed in the main culling operations were also slaughtered in the follow-up mopping operations.

This was followed by sanitisation programme which include cleaning and disinfection of bird culling sides as well as farms and backyards.

Sanitisation was carried out at two organised farms run by the state government at Mantripukhri and Porompat, and at 166 semi-organised poultry farms run by private individuals.

In the meantime, to take stock of the measures being taken up to control avian influenza in the state, a high level team from the Union ministry of agriculture, led by secretary, veterinary and animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries, Uma Chakravarty, is arriving in Imphal on Monday.

http://www.kanglaonline.com/index.php?template=headline&newsid=38879&typeid=1

 

[Treyfish]

Re: India: Second phase of anti-bird flu operations ends

Sunday 12th August, 2007
http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=272805
Poultry farms affected by bird flu sealed in Manipur
<HR style="COLOR: #000066" align=left width="50%">
<SMALL>ANI <SMALL>Sunday 12th August, 2007</SMALL>

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=4 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=bnnstory vAlign=top width="60%">Imphal, Aug 12 : Health officials in Manipur have begun sealing poultry farms following an outbreak of bird flu in the state.

Health workers sealed the farms yesterday after completing the second phase of culling, mopping and sanitizing procedure within a 5-kilometre radius here, where symptoms of the H5N1 influenza were detected.

Though no human infection of the virus has been reported so far, but health officials warned of strict measures against people who fail to cooperate with the drive.

"This is almost the final phase of the mopping, and cleaning also has been completed almost in every area... In almost all localities we have received the reports of completion of the cleaning and disinfection process," said Dorendro Singh, Director of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry.

More than 300,000 chickens have been culled and six thousand mopped since the disease was detected.

India had two major flare-ups of bird flu in the western parts of the country last year.

Globally, at least 192 people have died due to bird flu out of 319 cases since 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) says.

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

 

[Treyfish]

Re: India: Second phase of anti-bird flu operations ends

Central officials briefed on Bird flu measures<!EpnHeading8End>
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 13: Joint Secretary of Ministry of Agriculture Upama Chawdry who arrived here today along with Joint Secretary of Union Health Ministry Binit Chawdry to take stock of preventive measures taken up by the State Government to contain further spread of Avian Influenza, inspected the poultry farms in Imphal East and West district and was briefed by the poultry farmers, RRT personnel and veterinarians.

Along with the State officials, the Joint Secretary also reviewed the sanitation programme being taken up in the poultry farms of Greater Imphal area in the morning today.

In the evening, the visiting Central official attended a joint meeting with All Manipur Poultry Farmers and Traders' Association at the head office of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department at Sanjenthong here.

After listening to the grievances of the poultry farmers/traders, Upama Chawdry observed that unlike in other parts of the country, the co-operation and support extended by the farmers/traders of Manipur to the State Government in containment of outbreak of Bird flu is commendable.

Having experienced outbreak of Bird flu for the third time in the country, Upama who arrived here to review the control and containment measures being taken up by the State Government, noted that the whole operation would come to nought without the public response.

She explained that giving compensation for the domestic fowls is being followed only in India and nowhere else.

As of now there is no arrangement for hiking the compensation amount as well.

In response to a question on declaring the State free from Bird flu, Upama replied that it may not be done at once since some international protocols have to be followed.

After the meeting with the poultry farmers/traders, the Joint Secretary of the Union Agriculture Ministry met the veterinary doctors and F/As at the State Guest House where she was debriefed on the preventive measures taken up by the State Government to contain further spread or outbreak of Bird flu in the State.

On the other hand, Joint Secretary of Union Health Ministry Binit Chawdry met the medical practitioners involved in the health surveillance exercise as well as officials of the State Health Department to discuss issues related to Bird flu and health of the people.

The two officials are expected to meet Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and Chief Secretary Jarnail Singh tomorrow.:tiphat:


http://www.e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=8..140807.aug07

 

[Treyfish]

Re: India: Second phase of anti-bird flu operations ends

Culling process offically over, but...<!EpnHeading1End>
It is now safe to eat chicken !<!EpnHeading1End>
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 14: With culling of domestic fowls from within 5 kms radius of the Chingmeirong farm from where the outbreak of Avian Influenza was first reported 'officially' over and the area under operation cleaned and disinfected as per the Action Plan, the Union Ministry of Agriculture & Animal Husbandry and the State Directorate of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Services respectively issued certificates in this connection on August 12.

<TABLE cellPadding=5 width=290 align=left><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE class=capbox width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD>It is now safe to eat chicken!!</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

The certificate issued by Director of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Services Th Dorendra Singh certified that culling has been carried out and the area under operation cleaned and disinfected as per the Action Plan for preparedness, control and containment of Avian Influenza of the Government of India and other actions in the post-operation period will also be carried out strictly in accordance with the Action Plan.

However some chickens could be seen roaming freely at Minuthong area today!.

Consequently, the restrictions imposed on consumption of Chicken and other poultry products has been lifted along with hosting a luncheon at the Sanjenthong complex of the Directorate of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Services here today where chicken was the main dish.

Secretary (Veterinary) Government of Manipur KK Chhetry led officials of the Veterinary Department as well as other Government officials and mediapersons in partaking the choicest Chicken curry served.

Outbreak of Avian Influenza in a poultry farm at Chingmeirong was first confirmed on July 25 and culling of domestic fowls from areas within 5 km radius of the affected farm was started one day later.

Although the culling exercise has been 'officially' completed and the certificate issued by the competent authority in this regard, it is said rearing of domestic fowls within the jurisdiction of 5 km radius of the Chingmeirong farm would be permitted after three months.

However, dressed poultry meat (not live birds) can be brought in from areas beyond 10 km radius for business as well as private consumption.

On the other hand, inspite of the certificate issued on completion of the culling and disinfectant exercise toward containment of Bird flu, sources said domestic fowls are still present in some households within the designated 5 km radius of the Chingmeirong farm, where the outbreak was first detected.

Moreover, how the virus causing the dreaded Avian Influenza spread to Manipur has not yet been ascertained by the competent authorities.

Talking to some media-persons, Health Minister Ph Parijat, however, said that the Bird flu virus might have come from Myanmar.

Notwithstanding all these gaping holes, Joint Secretary of Union Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Upama Chawdry, who arrived on a two day visit to take stock of the measures taken up by the State Government to contain further spread of Avian Influenza, categorically stated that she has reviewed the whole containment process and found it satisfying.

Interacting with media-persons briefly before her departure, Upama said the State Government and its Veterinary Department have done a good job in containing further spread of Bird flu in Manipur.

She informed that clinical surveillance would be carried out within 0-5 kms radius and clinical environment within 5-10 km radius as post-operation exercise, the fortnightly report of the post-operation exercise would be sought.

Before her departure, Upama met the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary of the State to discuss the issue as well as gave audience to the representatives of Poultry Farmers' Association and listen to their grievances.

Yesterday, Upama inspected some poultry farms located in Imphal East and West District to personally take stock measures taken up by the Government to control and prevent outbreak of Bird flu.:tiphat: http://www.e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=1..150807.aug07