Nagpur: The District Collector of Nagpur Dr Vipin Itankar on Wednesday declared the 1 km radius near Animal Husbandry Department and Eggs Incubation Centre in Seminary Hills as Bird Flu-affected area (Avian Influenza). Although the Collector has said, the situation should not trigger panic among the chicken or egg consumers.
Death of birds in the Incubation Centre alarmed the Disaster Management Department. Later, it was found that they were infected with the virus. The area in the radius of 10 kms has been under observation of the Department, stated a press release issued by Dr Itankar.
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Vaccination of birds and disinfecting of the poultry is being undertaken on priority basis. The affected areas have been prevented from transporting, exhibition etc., for the next 21 days. The order in this regard was issued by Dr Itankar on March 4.
More than 8,500 poultry birds, 16,700 eggs and 400kg bird feed have been scientifically destroyed by the Rapid Response Team (RRT) after carcasses of recent mortalities tested positive for avian influenza (bird flu) at the Regional Hatchery Centre, under the State Animal Husbandry Department, at Seminary Hills by the evening of March 5. An area within 1 km of the Incubation Centre has been declared Bird Flu-infected area under the Prevention, Control and Containment of Avian Influenza Act. Entire premises have been disinfected. Veterinary doctors have been informed of the situation. Citizens should be on alert but not panic, said Dr Itankar.
The zoonotic disease is contagious but chances of infected humans passing it to others are rare as of now, said doctors.
The administration has urged citizens not to panic but stay alert following reports of carcasses at Regional Hatchery Centre testing positive for avian influenza (bird flu). Among the containment measures, purchase of poultry feed, transportation, holding of markets, fairs, exhibitions in the affected area in Seminary Hills has been stopped for the next 21 days.
Private chicken shop owners and egg sellers in the area would be asked to dispose of their stock and remain shut for the next 21 days, officials said. They added that no new bird stock would be raised at the government hatchery for the next three months. The hatchery mostly produced kaveri and kadaknath breeds, and supplied them in bulk to farmers and poultry farms.
There will be no restriction on the movement of poultry birds, eggs and poultry feed from uninfected parts in the monitoring area within a radius of 10km, the Collector’s order stated.
The hatchery had reported sporadic deaths among birds since February 29. Next day, more than 200 birds suddenly died raising an alarm. On March 2, the carcasses were sent to the Disease Investigation Section (DIS) at Pune, which forwarded the samples to National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Bhopal.
The study confirmed the presence of avian influenza (bird flu), forcing the Collector to invoke the Animal Infections and Disease Prevention and Control Act 2009, and the Bird Flu Control Action Plan. The birds were culled on March 4 while disinfection of the centre was undertaken the same day.
All veterinary officers of the district have been put on alert, and asked to report any abnormal avian deaths in the district.
