More reports of Avian Influenza in Manipur

Imphal, Jul 27: The culling of chicken and ducks, affected with the Avian Influenza, continued here today.

The process had started yesterday and so far about 20,000 chicken and ducks were culled and buried by veterinary and health officials.

Veterinary officials said measures, like wearing of protective masks and clothes, were being taken out during the culling process.

''No one was allowed to go near the vicinity of the officials, who were carrying out the process,'' the veterinary officials stated.

Soon after the presence of the avian flu was confirmed on July 25 at Chingmeirong, the state government directed the officials to cull all the chicken and ducks within a radius of five km of Chingmeirong in Imphal East.

About 1.5 lakh of these birds would be culled, officials added.

However, the officials said there were reports of some people trying to hide the poultry products beyond the five km radius and transport them.

So far about 800 poultry rearing households were covered by about 20 Rapid Reaction Team (RRTs), each led by a veterinary doctor at Chingmeirong, Mantripukhru, Lilasing Khongnangkhong, Khurai Lairikyengbam Leikai, Thangmeiband, Dewlaland, Lamphel and Langol Tarung of Imphal areas.

Meanwhile, many poultry farmers were also complaining non-payment of compensation for the destruction of the birds.

The government had announced to compensate the loss of poultry at the rate of Rs 10 per chicken, Rs 40 for layers and Rs 30 for broilers The Animal Husbandry, dairy, fisheries and agriculture ministry had informed the Centre regarding outbreak of Avian flu at Chingmeirong.

Blood samples send to High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL) in Bhopal and National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune confimed the presence of H5 strain of Avian Influenza in the poultry products here, the veterinary officials said.

The Union Agriculture ministry had also informed the state government that the virus strain may be H5N1, which is more contagious and dangerous, they said.

The people in the state had been directed not to consume any poultry products.

In wake of the outbreak of bird flu, the state government had decided to launch an awareness programme for the staff of RIMS hospital for the treatment of pateints suffering from bird flu.

UNI