IMPHAL, April 19: Months after the confirmation of the outbreak of Rabies and Swine Flu in the state claiming lives of people, the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department has today sounded the red alert on the highly pathogenic Avian Influenza, Bird Flu, outbreak in Manipur.
The alert was sounded following a positive confirmatory report of Avian Influenza (HPAI H5N1) in the poultry unit of ICAR, Lamphelpat, Imphal from the National Institute of High security Animal Diseases, Bhopal, and in accordance with the provisions under Par.14 of the action plan of Animal Husbandry for preparedness, control and containment of Avian Influenza, issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Government of India.
The sample was reportedly sent on April 16 last and the confirmation was received by the ICAR yesterday.
Following the confirmation, all areas within a radius of 1km and 10 km from the epicentre, ICAR Lamphel, are declared infected zone and surveillance zone.
Subsequently, the Chief Secretary of Manipur has issued notification as a follow up action of the confirmation.
It said that all poultry birds within the infected zone shall be culled and buried with all formalities as per the Action Plan. Compensation for the culled birds will be paid at a rate to be fixed in consultation with the Government of India.
All movements/transportation and sale of poultry birds/products including eggs within the surveillance zone is banned with immediate effect.
The District Magistrate, Imphal West, has been instructed to initiate all contingency procedures immediately for control and containment for control and containment of the disease with technical assistance of the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department and in consultation with the Director (Vety./AH) as per the action plan.
It is further learnt that the District Magistrate is advised to invoke the provisions of sections 143 and 144 CRPC or other relevant provisions of law for executing the contingency procedures and enforcement.
The Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department will deploy Rapid Response Team (RRT) of Imphal West district immediately that will assist the DM, Imphal West in carrying out the contingency procedures including culling of poultry birds within the infected zone ad conduct of surveillance within the surveillance zone.
It said that the Joint director, District Vety. Office, Imphal West, shall supervise all technical operation including culling and surveillance by the RRT and a control room has been set up at the directorate of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department, Sanjenthong, Imphal, which will remain open 24×7 for monitoring the disease till it is fully controlled.
Any individual/farmer/NGO etc is asked to contact the control room for any information or clarification at 0385-2450224, 9436890396, 9089264484, it said.
Meanwhile, the Director and Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, has said that culling operation has been started within the infected areas from today at the ICAR-Poultry Unit, at Lamphelpat.
It said that during the operation, 900 chicks (8 days old) and six adult ducks are culled besides destroying 1550 eggs and 15 numbers of 70 kg bags. The culled birds are buried in a pit.
A joint meeting of all the districts Joint Directors has been convened to take up immediate measures regarding containment procedures and setting up of quarantine station for RRTs at the directorate office.