Tamil Nadu: Hundreds of chickens die in Andipatti - Ranikhet

[Ronan Kelly]

The article is about the H5N1 research controversy, but contained the highlighted information that I have not come across before;


Thiruvananthapuram | Posted on Feb 18, 2012 at 08:40am IST
Ruffling feathers, the bird flu way
Express News Service , The New Indian Express

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A couple of weeks ago, hundreds of chicken died of an unknown cause at a private poultry farm in Andippetti, leading to a total ban in Idukki on chicken raised in Theni. The after-effects of this was felt in the poultry farms of Gudalur, Cumbum and nearby villages in Tamil Nadu.
� Just about the same time, Bhubaneswar began the culling of birds in selected wards, where bird flu was suspected. Fear of bird flu also gripped Meghalaya after hundreds of pigeons were found dead, with no particular cause.

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tamil Nadu: Hundreds of chickens die in Andipatti

Re: Tamil Nadu: Hundreds of chickens die in Andipatti

Apparently it was Ranikhet, but what always bothers me with India is the lack of communication between districts, nor is there any real attempt at journalistic fact checking. The facts in the story above could have easily been checked by the Indian Express reporter. Some of this stuff can be important. At the same time as this chicken mortality event, the were a number of children sick with "mysterious fever", at least two of whom died and one was a 10 month old living in Andipatti. With most of these mystery deaths, there is rarely any follow up in the media. Details are important if we are to rapidly diagnose what could become a global pandemic.


Kerala embargo on chicken from Theni

STAFF REPORTER

Suspicion that they were infected with disease

Health officials of Idukki district in Kerala have temporarily put an embargo on chicken reared in Theni district on Monday, as they suspected that the birds supplied to Kerala were afflicted with disease.

Acting on an order issued by the Health Department, Kerala, officials shut all the three check posts – near Kumily, Maharaja Mettu in Bodi and Cumbum Mettu near Cumbum – for chicken-laden vehicles. However, they did not stop vehicles carrying cattle. They were allowed to cross these check posts without any hassle.

The Kerala officials reportedly took samples of chicken from a van which was blocked at the check post and found the disease. Later, they ordered the check post officials to stop all chicken-laden lorries and send them back.
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http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article2826355.ece


State keeps vigil against poultry diseases

T. NANDAKUMAR

The government has stepped up surveillance against avian influenza and Ranikhet disease in Kerala to prevent an outbreak of the dreaded poultry diseases.

The Department of Animal Husbandry has intensified vigil at border checkpoints following an outbreak of Ranikhet disease in a poultry farm at Andipatty in Theni district of Tamil Nadu.

Vigilance squads and rapid action teams have been deployed to inspect vehicles bringing poultry from across the border. Byroutes used by truck operators to smuggle poultry consignments into the State are also being closely monitored.

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http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/article2844574.ece