Bird flu: States told to be prepared for any eventuality, ensure sufficient stock of PPE kits

Reports of unusual mortality of birds and ducks have been received from Chhattisgarh and Sanjay lake in Delhi, respectively, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying said in its status report on Avian Influenza (AI) in the country today.

Chhattisgarh has constituted RRT teams for emergency situations and also sent the samples to designated laboratories after poultry and wild birds were found dead on Friday night in the Balod district. Samples from dead ducks received from Sanjay lake in Delhi have also been sent to the designated laboratory for testing. Further, samples of dead crows have been sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) from Mumbai, Thane, Dapoli, Parbhani and Beed districts of Maharashtra for confirmation of Avian Influenza.

The Department of Animal husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) has issued advisory to the affected states so as to avoid further spread of disease. So far, the disease has been confirmed from seven states (Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh).

After confirmation of Avian Influenza positive samples from ICAR-NIHSAD in poultry (two poultry farms) of Panchkula district, Haryana, positive cases of Avian Influenza in migratory birds were reported in Shivpuri, Rajgarh, Shajapur, Agar, Vidisha district of Madhya Pradesh, Zoological Park, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh and Pratapgarh and Dausa districts of Rajasthan.

Meanwhile culling operations have been completed in both the affected districts of Kerala and Post Operational Surveillance Programme guidelines have been issued to the state. Central teams deployed to visit the affected states of Kerala, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh for monitoring and for epidemiological investigation have reached the respective destinations.

In a communication to the Chief Secretaries/Administrators of the States/UTs, Secretary DAHD requested state animal husbandry departments to ensure effective communication and coordination with health authorities for close vigilance of the disease status and avoid any chances of jumping of the disease into humans.

Besides increasing surveillance around water bodies, live bird markets, zoos, poultry farms, etc. proper disposal of carcass, and strengthening of biosecurity in poultry farms have to be ensured. States were also requested to be prepared for any eventuality of Avian influenza and were requested to ensure sufficient stock of PPE kits and accessories required for culling operations. Chief Secretaries/ Administrators were requested to arrange to issue appropriate advisories to quell consumer reactions, affected by rumors and increase awareness regarding safety of poultry or poultry products that are safe for consumption following boiling/cooking procedures..