H5N1: India Culling Birds In Odisha

Odisha- Credit Wikipedia

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With all of the news of H5N8 in Europe and the Middle East, H5N6 in Korea and Japan, and H7N9 in China, it is easy to forget that HPAI H5N1 still circulates in many parts of the world, and remains a threat to both poultry and to human health.

India, which has only recently saw the end of a spate of H5N8 outbreaks, is now reporting an outbreak of H5N1 in in Odisha. 

H5N1 also circulates widely in Western Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Indonesia.

Bird flu reported in Odisha's Khurda, alert issued, culling to start

By Express News Service  |   Published: 26th December 2016 04:16

BHUBANESWAR: With bird flu (H5N1) reported from Khurda’s Keranga village for the first time this season, the State Government on Monday issued an alert and prepared for culling of the poultry in the infected area.

After unusual mortality was reported among chicken in Keranga, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department (FARD) had sent samples to National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) at Bhopal. The samples tested positive for H5N1 avian influenza (AI) virus, Commissioner Cum Secretary Bishnupada Sethi said.

The Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries of Ministry of Agriculture which issued an advisory to the FARD instructed that infected and alert zones be identified in 1 km and 10 km radius of the outbreak point respectively. The local body, veterinary and health officials should also be alerted to ensure restrictions in these two areas.

Accordingly, three Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) have been formed for the infected zone which is within 1 km radius of the village. Culling will start in this zone. Officers who were engaged during the last outbreak of bird flu in 2011-12 have been asked to participate in the operational work of control and report to the Chief Divisional Veterinary Officer, Khordha on Monday.

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