Assam, India: Feared Expansion of Bird Flu Affected Area

 

 

# 2507

 

Media reports indicate that the recently discovered outbreak of bird flu among poultry in Assam may have spread beyond the 5 km culling/ containment radius set up last Friday. 

 

This report from the Sentinal,  posted by Treyfish on FluTrackers.

 

 

Avian flu in new areas, sale of poultry banned

 

Guwahati, 2 December 2008

 

As a precautionary measure, sale and movement of poultry birds have been banned in Kamrup district from today, as bird flu is suspected to have spread over new areas, including Sarpara (near Mirza), Rangamati and Bongra Kachuniapara villages in the district, said Kamrup Deputy Commissioner RC Jain.


Meanwhile, Kamrup (Metro) district administration has also imposed a ban on the movement of all kinds of birds and eggs from Mirza and Pasashbari areas into the district and Guwahati city. ........

 

 

We get additional details on the culling operation in this article from the New Kerala.

 

 

 

Bird flu spreads to new areas

Guwahati, Dec 2 : Thousands of birds are being culled daily at Hajo near the state capital even as Avian Influenza spread to new areas forcing authorities to ban sale of chicken in some areas.

 

''Culling is on, though remoteness of areas and resistance by owners presents some difficulties in further expediting the process,'' state Veterinary department director Dr A K Kotoky said.

He added that about 37,000 ducks and chickens had been culled so far.


Blood samples were sent to Bhopal and
Pune laboratories after unnatural death of birds was reported since last week and they had tested positive for the H5N1 strain, confirming the first outbreak of bird flu in the state.

 

The director informed that all district deputy commissioners have been alerted to keep watch on any possible mass death of poultry and report immediately in the wake of such a situation.

 

Preventive culling was undertaken in the state last year when bird flu was detected in North Bengal.

 

Dr Kotoky said migratory birds, who arrive in small numbers to roost in water bodies at Hajo, could have been the bearers of the virus.

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