Bhutan-Outbreak triggers culling and hiding #H5N1 #BIRDFLU

Outbreak triggers culling and hiding

All border towns are on high alert after two outbreaks in a week’s time
Despite some poultry owners hiding their chickens and eggs either in their homes or away from the coops, all 192 chickens at the camp in Changedaphu (Kalabazar), Thimphu was culled by yesterday.

The “operation” team also destroyed 283 eggs and 34 coops at the camp to contain the spread of bird flu (H5N1) that hit the capital three days ago.
Adult birds were culled by pulling and twisting their necks while the eggs and chicks were thrown straight into the polythene bags.
“Its more to do with attachment than because of the economic value that they hid the birds and eggs,” livestock division’s spokesperson for bird flu Dr Tashi Dorji said.
Although owners were told that they would be “adequately compensated,” Dr Tashi Dorji said some owners argued with them saying their birds were not sick and so should not be culled.
The culled birds and eggs belonged to 31 poultry owners.


Dr Tashi Dorji said the culling operation was focused on two places, Kalabazar and the area that goes towards Kuenselphodrang. The area falls within a kilometer radius from the point of outbreak.
Three surveillance teams, who are spread across the city for risk assessment, found 34 poultry owners with 2,885 chickens and two ducks in 14 areas.
In the last three days, the team has sprayed disinfectant on 607 vehicles that plied by the junction of Kuenselphodrang and Kalabazaar.
Except for 23 heavy vehicles and two two-wheelers, the rest were all light vehicles.

With Tshimasham suspected to be a possible source of the flu livestock officials are cautioning poultry owners who own large number of birds to be vigilant and report any death immediately at 124 or 155.
“Birds dying overnight is the main symptom of the flu, that” Dr Tashi Dorji said. “The owners should look out for sick birds that don’t feed well, have watery eyes and swollen wattle.”
Poultry owners are advised to take adequate bio-security measures such as not buying new chicks and layers; not allowing strangers to enter their farms nor allow any wild birds to mix with their birds.
The National Incident Command Centre for bird flu will meet today to decide on the compensation amount they would pay the owners for their culled birds and eggs.

Given the mortality of 60 percent in infected humans, health officials have also put about 115 of some 300 people from the camp and the “operation team” on medication, called post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for 10 days.
These are those who have had contact with sick or dead birds, Dr Gosar Pemba from the Thimphu referral hospital said.
“Some have also consumed the dead birds,” Dr Gosar Pemba said. “The medicine is given for 10 days because the incubation period for the virus after it enters the body is between five to seven days.”
Dr Gosar Pemba said they conducted rapid tests for avian flu on five people at the camp who were coughing and feverish. “The results were negative but we will be doing another test again,” he said.
A person infected with avian flu will suffer from fever, severe cough and have difficulty breathing since it infects the lungs first, he said. “Avian flu is quite serious because if 100 people are infected, 60 would die.”http://www.kuenselonline.com/2011/?p=25141

#h5n1 Bhutan-Possible suspects on Tamiflu #H5N1

Bird Flu: More surveillance underway

Saturday, January 14, 2012

(Bird flu update) Following the outbreak of bird flu in Changedaphu, popularly known as Kala Bazaar, medicines are being distributed to the people who came in contact with the dead poultry birds and their products. More surveillance is being conducted within three kilometre radius of the area.
Over 90 people have come in contact with the dead birds.
The officials from health and livestock have given health education and have disinfected the place.
The coops were being dismantled and sprayed with disinfectant. It was then burned to prevent the bird flu from spreading. The people, those who have consumed the dead and sick birds are being given Tami flu, the only drug available to treat this flu.
The Technical Focal Person for Avian influenza, Dr. Gosar Pemba, said that they took the samples from those people who were showing some signs of the disease. He added that it is too early to say as it could be normal flu, cough, sneezing and fever. “From these people we are taking samples and take it in our laboratory and see if any one of them has infection.”
Rapid test have shown negative results.
Meanwhile, more than 140 birds have been culled, 190 eggs destroyed belonging to 48 poultry owners.
This is the first case of bird flu outbreak recorded in the capital. Specialists suspect the recent outbreak in Tshimasham to be the source of the outbreak.
The culling process lasted at least four hours. According to the Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority’s (BAFRA) specialist J.B Gurung, the culling operation was carried out late night as the affected area is within the city and it could pose a high risk for human health.
The Director General of the Department of Livestock, Tenzin Dendhup, says 38 birds have died. Another eleven birds are sick.
According to BAFRA’s Director General disinfection of vehicles and strict monitoring of imports of poultry and poultry products by BAFRA at various entry points will resume.  http://www.bbs.com.bt/bbs/?p=8318

http://www.kuenselonline.com/2011/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/flu1.jpg

Bhutan-Bird flu hits Thimphu #H5N1 #BIRDFLU

   Jan 14, 2012

and the ban re-imposed after an outbreak in Orissa, India
Changedaphu (Kalabazar) A bird flu outbreak in Thimphu was confirmed yesterday afternoon after the deaths of 38 chickens in the past week at the camp in Changedaphu (Kalabazar).
Another 11 were found sick. These birds are from five houses that had 49 birds in all. The National Centre for Animal Health in Serbithang confirmed the outbreak.
By last evening, a team of officials from the Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority (BAFRA), the livestock department, health, police and city officials had dug a two-feet deep pit to dispose the culled birds.
An emergency meeting of the National Incident Command Centre (NICC) for bird flu was held yesterday following the deaths.
The culling began last night after the team reached Thimphu from Tshimasham. “Since the place is within the city it could pose a high risk for human health although this is the first case in the city,” officials said.
Livestock officials said the birds had started dying since January 8, but were informed by the residents only on January 12, after the death of two birds, which tested positive for bird flu.
Dairy division chief with the livestock department and the spokesperson for bird flu, Dr Tashi Dorji, said the residents had already buried nine dead birds.
The disease, according to Dr Tashi Dorji, is similar to a disaster, with no treatment besides culling. “The H5N1 virus infects humans as well, and people should avoid eating eggs and chicken from the flu-affected areas,” he said.
While the investigation to find the source of infection is on, officials suspect the flu could have spread from Tshimasham, where the flu outbreak was first reported. “Tshimasham could be a possible source, and it could also be wild birds, such as pigeons,” Dr Tashi Dorji said.
The team will start spraying disinfectant today at the junction of Kuenselphodrang and Kalabazar. Areas around Thimphu such as Samarzingkha, Police camp, RICB, Hospital area, Upper Changzamtog are considered high risk areas.
There are 17,144 birds alone under Thimphu Dzongkhag excluding those in the city area as per the poultry population report, 2011.
Meanwhile, just three days after the six-month ban on the import of poultry and poultry products from India was lifted, the ban is re-imposed following an outbreak of bird flu at Orissa, India. All BAFRA permits related to poultry and poultry products that have been granted to date will be considered cancelled.  http://www.kuenselonline.com/2011/?p=25054