Jorhat ready to meet bird flu threat

From our Correspondent
JORHAT, Dec 5: Though no case of any bird flu has been reported here so far, the Jorhat district administration is taking all necessary precautions to tackle the possible outbreak of the dreaded disease. At an emergency meeting called by Jorhat Deputy Commissioner Ms LS Changsan at her office chamber on Thursday, the details for meeting any exigency in this respect were worked out.
The import of poultry and ducks from outside the district has been banned with immediate effect. As many as 10 rapid response teams have been formed to meet the threat posed by avian influenza. A 24-hour control room has been set up which is being manned by Dr RP Shyam (contact no. 9435358069) and Dr CK Sinha (contact no. 9435050847). Dr Shyam is the District Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Officer, while Dr Sinha is attached to the District Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department.
When contacted, the District Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Officer pointed out that blood serums and fluidal swabs of poultry and litter samples of migratory birds are being regularly sent for tests at the Khanapara-based North Eastern Region Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Dr Shyam said. About 100 samples are being sent every month since 2007, he added. If necessary, the samples are sent for further tests at the Bhopal-based High Security Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. However, none of the samples has tested positive for avian influenza, he stressed.
Dr Shyam, who is also the Joint Director of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Services for Upper Asom zone, maintained that 340 personnel have already received requisite training on tackling bird flu. “We will hold awareness meetings at the block and gaon panchayat level and distribute informative leaflets regarding bird flu among poultry farmers through the block development officers,” he said.
There are around 80 to 90 commercial poultry farmers in the district though every rural household keeps domestic fowl.
On the other hand, veterinarian Dr Sinha stressed that the H5N1 virus, which causes avian influenza, may be carried by migratory birds which flock the region at this time of the year. He expressed concern that there are two unprotected important bird areas (IBAs) – Jhanjimukh and Majuli – within Jorhat district. It may be mentioned here that according to a survey carried out by the Mumbai-based Indian Bird Conservation Network, there are 26 IBAs in Asom. The total number of IBAs in the country stands at 112.
“We are enlisting the cooperation of local nature NGOs to collect the litter samples of migratory birds for conducting tests,” Dr Sinha said. The Forest Department, too, has been instructed to report any unusual deaths of wild birds in the forest reserve areas. Officials of Health and Veterinary Departments, police officers, BDOs, circle officers and magistrates had attended the meeting yesterday.