Bird flu alert: AH&VS deptt issues advisory

January 8, 2021 85 Views No Comment

DIMAPUR, JAN 7 (NPN) : In view of the recent ingress of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the country especially in Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, the Animal Husbandry &Veterinary Services (AH&VS) department has issued an advisory for preparedness, control and containment of avian influenza (bird flu), which is caused by H5N8, an Influenza Type-A Virus.

In a press release, AH&VS director Dr. Budhi Lama has requested public to report unusual sickness and mortality of poultry birds, ducks and pet birds to the nearest veterinary health centre. The department has also advised the public not to handle and consume such poultry birds/ducks which have died suddenly. However, the department said that it was safe to consume healthy poultry birds/ducks/turkeys etc.

Poultry owners have been requested not to mix outside (unknown source) live poultry birds/ducks into their stock to prevent transmission of diseases.
Further, the department has asked the poultry entrepreneurs/farmers/ business man etc importing eggs, day old chicks/ducklings, live birds/ducks etc into the State to mandatorily produce the State of origin and refrain from importing such stocks from diseased outbreak and its neighboring States.

All CVOs have been asked to issue “red alert” notice to all subordinate officer, field officers, staff and village functionaries on the ingress of the disease in the country and impress upon strong disease reporting system within respective district through education & communication campaign and familiarise the public about the risk to avian and human population.
It also directed all CVOs to coordinate with forest & wild life department on the status of wild birds. The department stated that those CVOs having water bodies in the district and being visited by migratory birds needed to be extra vigilant.

All CVOs have also been directed to activate their existing Rapid Response Team (RRT) and any changes required due to transfer/retirement; the CVOs are to reconstitute the team. All RRTs are to have direct connection with the grassroots level for two way communication.

All CVOs have been directed to contact the control room in the directorate office for Avian Influenza (HPAI) related matters and also ELISA Laboratory, Kohima for further surveillance and sample collection.

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/bird-flu-alert-ah-vs-deptt-issues-advisory/226982.html