Centre sends multi-disciplinary experts' team to Kerala and Haryana to oversee Avian Influenza containment operations

Centre has deployed multi-disciplinary teams to Avian Influenza affected Alappuzha and Kottayam districts in Kerala, and Panchkula District in Haryana. The two multi-disciplinary teams consist of experts from National Center for Disease Control, National Institute of Virology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, RML Hospital, New Delhi and Lady Hardinge Medical College.

A high level team comprising Director, NCDC and Joint Secretary and COVID-19 nodal officer, Ministry of Food Processing Industries has been deployed to Kerala to oversee the implementation of Avian Influenza containment operations and guide State Health Departments in mounting appropriate public health interventions for the same. 

In addition, this high level team will also review the COVID-19 situation in the State.

The Health Ministry said that the Department of Animal Husbandry had notified on Monday, detection of Avian Influenza (H5N8) in samples of dead ducks from Alappuzha and Kottayam districts in Kerala. This has been detected among crows in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, and among Migratory Birds in Himachal Pradesh and among ducks in Kerala. No case has been detected in chickens. 

The Department of Animal Husbandry has issued detailed advisory to states to further intensify surveillance to detect any case in poultry birds.

The Ministry said, it is keeping a strict watch over the evolving scenario. A Control Room has been set up in New Delhi to keep a watch on the situation and to take stock on a daily basis of preventive and control measures undertaken by State authorities regarding the



flu.

Culling of domestic birds is being carried out by Health workers in protective suits in infection hit regions of Alappuzha and Kottayam districts. There is also a ban on trading of domestic birds till further notice in the two districts.

Meanwhile, the State Minister for forest, animal husbandry and Dairy Development Mr.K.Raju has informed that a Central team will be visiting the infection hit regions.

They will  take stock of the situation and will also be looking into the  possibility of the Bird Flu viral infection transmitting to humans.

 

The State Govt authorities have informed that all necessary steps are being taken to contain the spread of infection and have asked people not to panic and to remain on high . 

Meanwhile, the State government has also announced relief for affected farmers. Rs 200 will be given, for every over 2 month old domestic birds that died of infection or culled and those below two months old will be compensated with Rs 100 each. Per Egg compensation of Rs 5 is also announced.

Mr.Atul Chaturvedi, Secretary, Department of Anil Husbandry said that there is no evidence to suggest that consumption of poultry or eggs, fit for human consumption could transmit the Bird Flu Virus.

The Avian Influenza infection in humans has not been reported in India as yet though the disease is zoonotic. There is no direct evidence that viruses can be transmitted to humans via the consumption of contaminated poultry products.