Panchkula: After confirmation of Avian Influenza positive samples in two poultry farms of Panchkula district, Haryana, State has deployed 9 Rapid Response teams to the epicenter. The control and containment operation is underway in both locations, as per a press release by The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry.
The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying on Sunday said that central teams have been formed to monitor the spread of bird flu in 7 states across the country.
The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry stated, “Samples of crow/wild birds have been confirmed for Avian Influenza (H5) from the Surat district of Gujarat and the Sirohi district of Rajasthan. Further, reports of unusual deaths of 86 crows and 2 egrets were received from Kangra district (Himachal Pradesh). Reports of unusual mortality of wild birds have also been received from Nahan, Bilaspur, and Mandi (Himachal Pradesh) and samples have been sent to the designated laboratory for testing.”
The Department has issued advisories to the affected States 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).
Test reports of the samples sent to the designated laboratory from Delhi, Maharashtra are still awaited. Further, no samples have been confirmed positive in wild birds from Balod district, Chhattisgarh which was tested earlier.
Control and containment have been completed in both the affected districts of Kerala and Post Operational Surveillance Programme guidelines have been issued to the State of Kerala.
The central teams formed for monitoring the situation in the affected areas of the country are visiting the affected sites. One of the central teams reached Kerala on January 9, 2021, and is presently monitoring the epicenter sites and conducting an epidemiological investigation. Another central team reached Himachal Pradesh on January 10, 2021, and surveyed the affected areas.
According to the union government, states have been requested to build awareness among the public and avoid the spread of misinformation regarding AI. States/ UTs have been requested to increase surveillance around water bodies, live bird markets, zoos, poultry farms, etc. proper disposal of the carcass, and strengthening of biosecurity in poultry farms.
Meanwhile, Bird flu had confirmed in Delhi and Maharashtra after testing samples from dead crows and ducks.