17.3.15

Birdflu in Amethi

All sick birds in Amethi were culled in wake of the current avian flu outbreak. Surveillance and mapping of diseased birds in places around the outbreak area would be the focus now.
As per rules, all birds in 1 kilometer radius (core area) of the outbreak area have to be culled. Those falling in the surveillance area and 10 km radius of the affected area are examined and treated accordingly .
Amethi district magistrate Jagat Raj said the operation began on Sunday morning and by the end of the first day 761 birds, including chicken, ducks and some pigeons in the affected t area were eliminated. “The leftover birds were pigeons that are a hard catch.The exercise resumed on Monday morning with forest department officials laying bird trap nets in many places.The last bird was caught and culled at around 7 pm,“ the DM claimed.
Local officials said extensive surveillance would start in the district from Tuesday .“Public awareness drive has already been launched,“ they said. Meanwhile, principal secretary health and family welfare Arvind Kumar held a meeting to review preparedness for avian flu management.
Regarding availability of tamiflu, which is used in treating avian flu besides H1N1, Kumar said, “We have over 2 lakh tablets of tamiflu as of now. The stock would be augmented if need be.“

Between March 6 and 7,  more than 350 chickens and ducks died mysteriously in villages of Shuklaganj area of the district. The incident shocked residents who could not figure out the cause of death. Two days later, veterinary department team gathered samples and sent them for confirmation of bird flu to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases lab in Bhopal. On Friday, lab report confirmed presence of a highly pathogenic avian flu virus in Amethi. On Saturday, Avian flu alert was declared.

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