India-Bird flu possibly wiped out Chukha poultry farm #H5N1 #BIRDFLU

Bird flu possibly wiped out Chukha poultry farm

  

Livestock-BAFRA investigating team is yet to confirm the suspicion
National Centre For Animal Health The national centre for animal health in Serbithang, Thimphu, is suspecting a bird flu or H5NI outbreak as the cause of death of all the 87 birds in a private poultry farm in Chukha.
The birds, in the farm in Bjacho gewog, died between December 30 and 31.
Dr Tashi Dorji from the livestock division of the centre said polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machine proved that the birds died because of H5N1. However, a team from the livestock division and Bhutan agriculture food regulatory authority (BAFRA) are still investigating the detail source of infection.
The disease, Dr Tashi Dorji said, is under control and no people or other poultry farms were affected. “We’re still doing the investigation and surveying neighbouring villages,” Dr Tashi Dorji said.
“Continued surveillance is also being done, since the ban on poultry import, three months back.” A team compromising officials from BAFRA, livestock department, health and police are carrying out the investigation.
Doctor Tashi Dorji said the fatal death of birds is a major and an emergency disaster, where, if it communicates to human, 60 percent of disease would result in death. All the 87 birds were scientifically disposed off and prevented from being spread The outbreak was restricted to only one farm belonging to a farmer, Lhamo, who reported the deaths to livestock officials in Chukha.

According to Lhamo, the first two birds died on the morning of December 30, after showing symptoms like
dropping head, slight outflow of fluid from the mouth, anus and diarrhoea. “I disposed two birds and sprayed
medicine to prevent it from spreading,” she said. “I learnt it from the awareness program I attended.” The next 13 birds showed the same symptoms and died in the afternoon, after they were brought back from the veterinary hospital in Chukha. Towards the evening, Aum Lhamo said another 24 birds died inside the coop. “By then only 47 birds were left,” she added. But next morning, she saw 35 birds were dead, after showing the same symptoms.

“And in the evening, the last 12 birds also died,” Aum Lhamo said. Aum Lhamo was declared safe.
Meanwhile, an emergency meeting was held yesterday where national incident command centre instructed the activation of incident operation centre at Tsimasham to conduct strict vigilance and monitor the bird flu situation in the vicinity. “BAFRA shall further upscale of spraying of vehicles and travellers with disinfectants at strategic locations,” Dr Tashi Dorji said.
The IOC team has surveyed poultry population within one to two kilometer radii, and estimated about 2,000 birds at risk, if the situation is not taken care of. “The situation is under control, so people should not panic,” Dr Tashi Dorji said.
The meeting also recommended the suspected outbreak of bird flu would be officially declared, after obtaining the result from the world organisation for animal health referral laboratory located at Bhopal, India.
The sample has been sent m to Bhopal, India, and the results are awaited within next few days, Dr Tashi Dorji
says. Meanwhile, Aum Lhamo, who used to sell eggs in Tsimasham, is waiting for compensation. “I used to earn
about Nu 24,000 a month,” she said. “Now I don’t know from where I’ll earn an income from.”   http://www.kuenselonline.com/2011/?p=24374