Bhutan-Outbreak triggers culling and hiding #H5N1 #BIRDFLU

Outbreak triggers culling and hiding

All border towns are on high alert after two outbreaks in a week’s time
Despite some poultry owners hiding their chickens and eggs either in their homes or away from the coops, all 192 chickens at the camp in Changedaphu (Kalabazar), Thimphu was culled by yesterday.

The “operation” team also destroyed 283 eggs and 34 coops at the camp to contain the spread of bird flu (H5N1) that hit the capital three days ago.
Adult birds were culled by pulling and twisting their necks while the eggs and chicks were thrown straight into the polythene bags.
“Its more to do with attachment than because of the economic value that they hid the birds and eggs,” livestock division’s spokesperson for bird flu Dr Tashi Dorji said.
Although owners were told that they would be “adequately compensated,” Dr Tashi Dorji said some owners argued with them saying their birds were not sick and so should not be culled.
The culled birds and eggs belonged to 31 poultry owners.


Dr Tashi Dorji said the culling operation was focused on two places, Kalabazar and the area that goes towards Kuenselphodrang. The area falls within a kilometer radius from the point of outbreak.
Three surveillance teams, who are spread across the city for risk assessment, found 34 poultry owners with 2,885 chickens and two ducks in 14 areas.
In the last three days, the team has sprayed disinfectant on 607 vehicles that plied by the junction of Kuenselphodrang and Kalabazaar.
Except for 23 heavy vehicles and two two-wheelers, the rest were all light vehicles.

With Tshimasham suspected to be a possible source of the flu livestock officials are cautioning poultry owners who own large number of birds to be vigilant and report any death immediately at 124 or 155.
“Birds dying overnight is the main symptom of the flu, that” Dr Tashi Dorji said. “The owners should look out for sick birds that don’t feed well, have watery eyes and swollen wattle.”
Poultry owners are advised to take adequate bio-security measures such as not buying new chicks and layers; not allowing strangers to enter their farms nor allow any wild birds to mix with their birds.
The National Incident Command Centre for bird flu will meet today to decide on the compensation amount they would pay the owners for their culled birds and eggs.

Given the mortality of 60 percent in infected humans, health officials have also put about 115 of some 300 people from the camp and the “operation team” on medication, called post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for 10 days.
These are those who have had contact with sick or dead birds, Dr Gosar Pemba from the Thimphu referral hospital said.
“Some have also consumed the dead birds,” Dr Gosar Pemba said. “The medicine is given for 10 days because the incubation period for the virus after it enters the body is between five to seven days.”
Dr Gosar Pemba said they conducted rapid tests for avian flu on five people at the camp who were coughing and feverish. “The results were negative but we will be doing another test again,” he said.
A person infected with avian flu will suffer from fever, severe cough and have difficulty breathing since it infects the lungs first, he said. “Avian flu is quite serious because if 100 people are infected, 60 would die.”http://www.kuenselonline.com/2011/?p=25141