A fortnight over, but H5N1 still spreading to fresh areas

By our Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Dec 13: After his two-day-long review of the bird flu situation and preventive measures taken by the Asom Government, Union Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Secretary N Gokul Ram today said culling operations have been completed in five of the nine locations in six districts where occurrence of bird flu has been detected.
Gokul Ram, who wound up his two-day visit to the State today, however, said: “Bird flu had been detected in Manipur and Tripura earlier, but the two State Governments could make the affected areas free from H5N1 within five days by totally shielding the places of occurrence. In Manipur, it took only three days to eliminate the virus. A fortnight has elapsed, but the virus is still spreading to fresh areas in Asom. I don’t know what’s wrong here. The preventive measures taken by the State Government, however, are satisfactory.”
When asked as to why the virus could not be controlled in Asom, Gokul Ram could not give a satisfactory reply. He, however, said the situation is under control. “There has been no report of human infection of bird flu from any place in the country. As many as 93 rapid response teams (RRTs) have been engaged in the culling operation in the State.”
Asom Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Commissioner-Secretary SL Mewra, who was also present at the press briefing, said: “The State Government is going to launch a scheme to rehabilitate the affected poultry farmers so that they can shift to other vocations. An amount of Rs 3 crore has been earmarked for the rehabilitation scheme.”
Meanwhile, a source in the Regional Institute of Animal Diseases, Khanapara, said about 1.11 lakh people had died of Spanish flu, a virus being carried by birds, in Asom in 1918. The source said pigs act as mixing vessels for bird flu creating health hazards in the State.