Bird flu spreads to new areas

Bird flu spreads to new areas
Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, Dec 3 – Dreaded bird flu disease has spread to new places as Bhopal-based High Security Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (HSADL) has confirmed presence of the virus of the dreaded bird flu among the diseased backyard fowls of Sarpara and Patgaon villages of Kamrup district. This the second case of outbreak of the dreaded disease caused by the H5N1 virus in the State. The first case was detected in Rajabazar village of Hajo Revenue Circle in the same district on November 27.

The Sarpara village is located under the Rampur Development Block of Palasbari Revenue Circle, Patgaon is located under the Rani Development Block of Azara Revenue Circle.
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Culling operations in the Rani and Rampur development block areas covering around 22 villages will start tomorrow and 40 Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) have been formed to conduct the operations in an area of three kilometre radius in each of the blocks for eliminating the entire backyard poultry population. In the Rampur Development Block many commercial poultry firms are there, while, in the Rani Block, most of the poultry population is household backyard ones.

Meanwhile, preparations are on to launch the moping operations in the 20 villages of Hajo revenue circle which have been covered under culling operation for the last few days. According to official sources, moping operations are expected to start in the revenue circle tomorrow. Till yesterday evening, around 46000 backyard birds were killed in the area.

The State Animal Disease Emergency Committee met here today with Additional Chief Secretary Parul Devi Das in the chair. The meeting reviewed the present situation and asked the Deputy Commissioners of both Kamrup and Kamrup (Metro) to impose restrictions on transportation of poultry and poultry products in an area of 13 kilometre radius from the villages which reported occurrence of bird flu. The DCs of other districts of the state are also alerted and asked to maintain strict vigil on the situation. The meeting was also attended by Joint Commissioner (LHS) of the Government of India and other senior officials of the concerned State Government Departments.

hat-tip Shiloh