Status on bird flu outbreak in Assam and WB

India Infoline News Service / Mumbai Dec 18, 2008 11:13

Containment measures have been instituted and microplan is being developed.

The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India has notified Avian Influenza Outbreak in Englishbazar block, Malda District of West Bengal on Dec. 15. Containment measures have been instituted and microplan is being developed. The active surveillance in 0-3 Km has started. Data is awaited. The State Govt has been provided with ventilators, PPE and Oseltamivir during the last outbreak the stock of which is available with them. Additional 5000 capsules of Tamiflu has been kept at Regional Director office of MOHFW, Kolkata. Culling activity has started. 86 animal health workers are under chemoprophylaxis. In Assam, the Department of Animal Husbandry had notified avian influenza in Block Gobardhana, Barpeta District and Block West Nalbari, Nalbari District (on 4.12.08) in Rani and Rampur block of Kamrup district (01.12.2008) and Hajo block of Kamrup district (27.11.08). Outbreaks have also been notified on 10.12.2008 in Block Sidli Chirang [District Chirang] and Bezera, Guwahati Municipality [District Kamrup] and Dibrugarh Municipality [District Dibrugarh]. Further outbreaks have been notified on 16.12.2008 in Bojali block [District Barpeta], Boitamari block [District Bongaigaon] and Guwahati Block/Municipality [District Kamrup (Metro)]. Central RRTs already stationed in these districts would cover the containment operations. Brief of containment operations • Culling activities has been completed in blocks of Hajo and Rani/ Azara in Kamrup district. Culling activities are on in other epicenters. A total of 12,489 birds were culled [cumulative 3,68,935]. • A total of 627 Animal Health workers were deployed for the culling activity. They are on Chemoprophylaxis. Surveillance • Central government has deployed RRTs in all epicenters. They are working with the state RRT teams. • Active house to house surveillance is being followed in 0-3 km zone in all epicenters and in 3-10 km in phases. A population of 1,78,485 was covered in 0-3 Km area and 1,45,317 in 3-10 km area. • 143 cases of Upper Respiratory Infection [URI] with fever were detected [78 in 0-3 Km and 65 in 3-10 Km]. None of them had history of handling dead or sick birds. • 122 cases of URI with fever in the outpatient in the identified health facilities. • 1149 health workers were deployed for surveillance.