On Wednesday, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying informed that avian influenza has been reported from the 4 states such as Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Kerala at 12 epicentres.
The government had earlier issued an advisory to Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh on January 1 to prevent additional spread of the infection.
As per the facts received from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, handle measures are getting taken as per the recommendations of National Action Plan of avian influenza, the Ministry mentioned. On January 5, a further advisory was issued to Himachal Pradesh exactly where the state has been advised to take measures so as to prevent additional spread of illness to poultry.
As per the report received, Kerala has currently initiated handle and containment operations from January 5 at epicentres and culling procedure is in operation, it mentioned.
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has also set up a handle area in the national capital to preserve watch on the predicament and to take stock on each day basis of preventive and handle measures undertaken by State authorities.
The other states had been also requested to preserve a vigil on any uncommon mortality amongst birds and to report straight away to take needed measures.
The measures recommended to the impacted States to include the illness and avoid additional spread as per the action program on avian influenza contain strengthening the biosecurity of poultry farms, disinfection of impacted places, right disposal of dead birds/carcasses, timely collection and submission of samples for confirmation and additional surveillance, intensification of surveillance program as nicely as the basic recommendations for the prevention of illness spread from impacted birds to poultry and human.
Coordination with the forest division for reporting any uncommon mortality of birds was also recommended to the States.
Kerala Forest and Animal Husbandry Minister K Raju mentioned that the bird flu spread in the state is due to migratory birds and 37,654 birds have been culled in Alappuzha and 7,229 birds in Kottayam districts so far.
In Himachal Pradesh’s Solan, about 500 chickens had been located dead earlier today. The samples had been sent to test for bird flu, the state Department of Animal Husbandry mentioned.
Himachal Pradesh Forest Minister Rakesh Pathania had informed that 2,403 birds have died so far.
“We expect that this number will grow. We are on high alert and monitoring the situation very carefully: on the outbreak of bird flu in the state,” he mentioned on Tuesday.
Over 1,700 migratory birds have died of suspected bird flu in the Kangra district’s Pong Dam region.
“Many birds were found dead last week and their samples were sent to laboratories in Bareily and Bhopal. Yesterday we got confirmation that it’s Avian flu. Almost 4 sub-divisions are sealed. We have banned the sale of egg, meat, poultry and fisheries in that area,” mentioned Rakesh Kr Prajapati, Kangra District Collector.
Over 50 birds such as crows and pigeons have died in Rajasthan’s Baran. “Samples of the birds have been sent to a lab in Bhopal for the test,” Baran Additional District Magistrate Mohammed Abubakr mentioned.
Telangana Animal Husbandry Minister Talasani Srinivas confirmed that there are no indicators of bird flu in the state.
“There are no signs of bird flu in the state. Teams of 1300 officers are regularly conducting medical examinations. The spread of bird flu is unlikely due to precautionary measures taken by Animal Husbandry Dept. People need not worry,” he mentioned.
Earlier in the day, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Giriraj Singh mentioned that migratory birds explanation behind the spread of bird flu in the nation.
Avian influenza (AI) viruses have been circulating worldwide for centuries with 4 recognized significant outbreaks recorded in the final century. India notified the very first outbreak of avian influenza in 2006.
According to the Ministry, infection in humans is not but reported in India even though the illness is zoonotic.
There is no direct proof that AI viruses can be transmitted to humans by way of the consumption of contaminated poultry solutions, it mentioned.
(With inputs from ANI)