Veterinary dept issues precautionary measures on bird flu (avian influenza)

EMN KOHIMA, APRIL 23 Following reports of outbreak of avian influenza/bird flu in neighbouring Manipur, the state Veterinary & Animal Husbandry department has on Thursday called for a restriction on movement of poultry and stop import of poultry birds and products from Manipur as a precautionary measure. “This is to prevent ingress of the disease into our state to safeguard poultry birds and public health in the state,” stated Dr. R Thungchamo Ezung, director Veterinary & AH, in a press release today. The department has requested all the villages of Nagaland adjoining Manipur state, poultry traders, chief veterinary officers, Rapid Response Team (RRT) and the public to keep vigilant and follow the precautionary measure. The release stated that avian influenza/bird flu has been circulating worldwide for centuries with four known outbreaks recorded in the last century, however, the first outbreak in India was notified during early 2006. It said the recent outbreaks in Chandigarh, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh and very recently in Manipur have hit the poultry industry, causing immense economic loss as well as threat to human health. “Avian influenza/bird flu is a viral disease and is highly contagious spreading to several species of food producing birds like chicken, duck, turkey, quail, guinea fowl, pet birds, wild water fowl etc….The virus spreads rapidly and can kill upto 90 to 100% of a poultry flock within 48 hours,” the department release informed. It cautioned that in certain cases, the bird flu virus may change its form and become highly infectious to humans and spread easily from person to person, and such a change could mark the start of a pandemic outbreak of disease covering large area. Stating that commercial poultry farms, poultry markets, backyard poultry, water bodies, piggery farms etc. may all be responsible in the spread of bird flu, the department has underscored the importance of strict vigilance, proper bio-security and good management in farms. It further informed that sero-surveillance should be done in case of any abnormal and sudden mortality in organised farms.