Amritsar: Chickens at a poultry farm at Chabba village, near Amritsar, Jan. 7, 2021. Following the confirmed reports of avian influenza (H5N1) or Bird Flu-related deaths of migratory and other birds in the neighboring state of Himachal Pradesh, the Punjab government has issued an alert for any suspicious death of migratory or poultry birds. (PTI Photo)
Kohima, January 7 (MExN): Following reports of bird flu (Avian Influenza) in states like Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, the Directorate of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services (DoAH&VS) Nagaland has issued an advisory for preparedness, control and containment.
In view of the recent outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the country, caused by H5N8, an Influenza Type-A Virus, Dr Budhi Lama, Director, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services issued the advisory to the general public and District Officers of DoAH&VS.
Public have been requested to report unusual sickness and mortality of poultry birds, ducks, pet birds to the nearest Veterinary Health Centre. They have also been requested not to handle and consume such poultry birds/ducks which have died suddenly.
However, it is safe to consume healthy poultry birds/ducks/turkeys etc, the advisory stated.
Poultry owners have been requested not to mix outside (unknown source) live poultry birds/ducks into their stock to prevent transmission of diseases.
Poultry entrepreneurs/farmers/businessmen importing eggs, day old chicks/ducklings, live birds/ducks etc into the State have been advised to mandatorily produce the State of origin and refrain from importing such stocks from disease outbreak and its neighbouring States.
CVOs to issue ‘Red Alert’ notice
The Directorate has also advised all Chief Veterinary Officers (CVOs) to issue ‘Red Alert’ notice to all Subordinate Officer, Field Officers, Staff and Village Functionaries on the ingress of the disease in the country.
They have been directed to formulate a ‘strong disease reporting system’ within respective districts through education and communication campaigns and familiarize the public about the risk to avian and human population. The CVOs are also to coordinate with Forest and Wild Life Department on the status of wild birds. CVOs in districts with water bodies which are visited by migratory birds have been advised to be ‘extra vigilant’.
All CVOs are to activate their existing Rapid Response Team (RRT). In case of any changes required due to transfer/retirement; the CVOs have been advised to reconstitute the RRT.
All RRTs are to have direct connection with the grass root level for two way communication
The CVOs have also 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.
It may be mentioned that thousands of poultry and migratory birds in Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and crows in Madhya Pradesh have reportedly died since the beginning of the outbreak in December-end.
According to initial reports, migratory birds are believed to have been the source of the outbreak.
While there were isolated reports of unusual mortality rate in poultry birds in Dimapur, there was no confirmed report of avian influenza in the State till date.
