India tackles bird flu outbreak
Gokul Chandra Pati, the senior official for animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries at the agriculture ministry in New Delhi, has reported two outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1).
One hit a poultry production unit, at the College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, in Durg, with 2,392 deaths and 6,293 birds at risk. The other devastated a government poultry farm at Jagadalpur, with 2,856 deaths, and 8,442 birds threatened.
The cause is currently unknown, but an epidemiological investigation is ongoing, reported the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE). “An intensive surveillance campaign has been launched in a 10km radius zone. Restocking will be applied in accordance with a specified protocol,” it added.
Indian veterinary authorities have responded with stamping out, quarantine and movement controls, screening, dipping and spraying, with no vaccination or treatment. They plan disinfection. The disease was confirmed by the high security animal disease laboratory, Bhopal.
