Bird flu: J and K, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu on alert; culling of chickens and ducks starts in Kerala

Culling of chickens and ducks began on Tuesday in parts of Kerala to contain H5N8 strain of bird flu, while Jammu and Kashmir sounded an alert and started collecting samples from migratory species after Himachal Presh, Rajasthan and Mhya Presh reported cases of avian influenza.Karnataka and Tamil Nu have stepped up surveillance and formed guidelines following outbreak of viral infection in neighbouring Kerala, where around 1,700 ducks have died due to flu.

In Mhya Presh, officials said that 155 de crows in Indore have been found with H5N8 strain since pathogen was first detected in city a week back, while in Rajasthan, after Jhalwar, birds in Kota and Baran were found with infection.

However, cases have been reported yet in Maharashtra, which shares borders with Mhya Presh.Officials in Himachal Presh on Tuesday surveyed area around Pong Dam Lake sanctuary in Kangra district to check spre of flu to domestic poultry birds, a day after samples of de migratory birds re tested positive for H5N8.

Till w, 2,700 migratory birds, mostly bar-heed geese, have been found de in lake area and samples have been sent for testing, state animal husbandry officials said.

operation to cull birds in and around a one-km rius of affected areas in Alappuzha and Kottayam in Kerala was launched a day after results of samples tested at National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal confirmed outbreak of bird flu in two districts.

Rapid response teams, set up by ministration, began culling ducks, hens and or domestic birds as per guidelines, officials said.

Culling of birds in four panchayats of Nedumudi, Thakazhy, Pallipp and Karuvatta in Kuttan region, where outbreak has been reported, is expected to be completed by Wednesday evening, Alappuzha district authorities said.In Karuvatta panchayat alone, around 12,000 birds will be culled, an official said.

In affected areas of Neendoor panchayat in Kottayam district, rapid response teams have culled some 3,000 birds so far, authorities said.

On a farm in Neendoor, around 1,700 ducks h died due to viral infection.Officials have said around 40,000 domestic birds, including 34,000 in Kuttan region alone, will be culled to check spre of H5N8 virus.

Though situation has been brought under control, authorities have sounded a high alert in districts, considering potential of virus to infect humans. Alappuzha district collector has banned use and tre of meat, eggs and waste of domestic birds, including ducks and chicken, in Kuttan and Karthikappalli Taluks, officials said.

In Indore, presence of bird flu was first detected on December 29, when about 50 crows were found de on Daly College campus of Residency area, and tests run on two of carcasses confirmed presence of pathogen.

Mhya Presh veterinary department deputy director Pramod Sharma said 155 crows were detected with H5N8 virus in Residency area in last eight days.

dely avian influenza has t been found in any or bird species apart from crows in Indore so far, he said.

"Samples from 120 live hens and roosters from area and 30 migratory birds from Sirpur Lake have been sent to a laboratory in Bhopal to check for bird flu. reports are awaited," Sharma said.

Survey is being carried out in Residency area to check people with symptoms like cold, cough and fever, a state health department official said but ded that case of H5N8 infection has been found in humans.

Jammu and Kashmir sounded an alert and started collecting samples to check health of winged guests flocking to Union territory during winters, officials said as neighbouring Himachal Presh reported cases of bird flu.Joint teams of animal husbandry and wildlife departments on Tuesday visited Gharana wetland in outskirts of Jammu and collected 25 bird droppings for testing to ascertain wher any of birds are infected with avian influenza, officials said.

Following bird flu outbreak in neighbouring Kerala, Tamil Nu stepped up surveillance on inter-state borders and anunced a contingency plan for manment of possible human cases.

" avian influenza spres rapidly, re could be a likelihood of humans getting affected. So, as a precaution, directorate general of health services has evolved a contingency plan for manment of human cases," Tamil Nu health secretary J Rhakrishnan said.

Karnataka health minister Dr K Sudhakar directed health officers in border districts of state to remain vigilant in view of avian flu outbreak in Mhya Presh and Maharashtra. He also said guidelines would be issued to all districts to take necessary action.

In Himachal Presh, rapid response teams have started collecting samples of poultry from an area of 10-km rius from periphery of Pong Dam Lake, animal husbandry deputy director (epidemiology) Dr Munish Batta said.

"Our priority at this st is to ensure that infection does t spre from migratory birds to domestic poultry," he ded.

Fortunately, re has so far been report of any unusual sickness or death among poultry in area, Batta said.

Officials in Rajasthan said that samples sent from Kota and Baran district have been found positive with avian influenza.

State agriculture and animal husbandry department minister Lal Chand Katariaheld said that avian influenza has been found in three districts of state -- Jhalawar, Kota and Baram.

Till Tuesday morning, 625 birds have died in 16 districts of state. Also, 86 samples from 11 districts have been sent for testing, officials said. 

(IM CREDITS:PTI)