Manipur culls chickens; Asom,Meghalaya on bird flu alert

Imphal, July 26 (UNI) Culling of chickens began in Manipur today after avian influenza was confirmed in the state yesterday and an alert was sounded in Meghalaya and Asom.

Veterinary officials said the process would continue within the radius of five km from Chingmeirong, Imphal East, the place, where incidence of the disease was confirmed.

About 1.3 lakh chicken would be culled at Thangmeiband, Lilashing Khongnangkhong, Lamphel and Lagol Tarung at Imphal West and Chingmeirong, Mantripukhri, Deulaland and Lairikyengbam Leikaiat Imphal East.

Immediately after the announcement of confirmation of avian flu in Manipur last afternoon, the price of chicken, about Rs 130 per kg, was immediately reduced to Rs 30 per kg but there were no buyers and almost all chicken centres were closed down.

Police had a hectic day today closing down chicken centres and there was a rush to buy fish as chicken was not in the market.

Restricting access to the infected premises, destruction of birds, disposal of birds and infected materials, clean-up and disinfection followed by sealing of the premises and issue of sanitisation certificate, post operation surveillance, imposition of legislative measures along with necessary measures laid down in the Contingency Plan of the Union Health Ministry would have to be taken immediately, sources stated.

In addition to that, surveillance would be carried out within a radius of five to ten km.

The state government would compensate for the loss of poultry, destruction of birds at the rate of Rs ten per chick, Rs 40 for layers and Rs 30 for broilers.

A Control Room on Implementation of Action Plan and Contingency Plan would be maintained and this Control Room would be in constant touch with the Centre.

Upma Chawdhry, Jt Secy of the Animal Husbandary Department, said unusual mortality in poultry was reported from a small unit in East Imphal District of Manipur (Village Chingmeirong).

The samples ware forwarded to High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (H5.ADL), Bhopal, and also to National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune for testing.

Ten teams each of Rapid Response Team were pressed into service at Imphal East and West and each team consisted of five personnel.

Lime, salt and other chemicals were kept at reserve.

Veterinary officials said a quarantine station had been opened at the Veterinary office, Imphal, and a control room would be opened 24 hours a day and 4000 personal protective equipment were kept at Imphal.

Twenty fogging machines and 1800 N-95 masks and sprayers had been kept ready.

Health officials said medical arrangements were made at RIMs, Imphal and JN hospital, Imphal and secure wards were kept ready for any eventuality.

On the first day, culling will be undertaken in eight villages surrounding the area of infection.

Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh held a meeting with all concerned officials after avian influenza was confirmed in the State yesterday, to determine the strategy to control and c ontain the dreaded disease among the poultry birds.

Authorities in Meghalaya have sounded an alert in the wake of an outbreak of bird flu in Manipur, restricting entry of poultry products from Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Temporary check posts in Jaintia Hills have been set up at Muktapur, Dawki, Hingkaria, Huroi, Leijri, Hatmawdon, Balat, Shella, Itchamati, Nongjri, Ranikor, Borsora, Maheshkhola Rongra, Baghmara, Sibbari, Gasuapara, Dimapara, Dalu, Purakhasia and Mahendraganj villages bordering the Indo-Bangla border, said Director Animal Husbandry and Veterinary D Khonglah.

The Border Security Force (BSF) and Customs Officials are also assisting Veterinary officials in all the check gates along the Indo-Bangla border to keep a check on cross border movement of poultry and poultry products.

Surveillance, early detection and vaccination programmes have been carried out under the task force. The veterinary department also conducted an examination in the markets here.

Asom also sounded bird flu alert in its border districts, especially the three districts of Barak Valley, closest to Manipur.

Sources in the Animal Husbandary department said the Deputy Commissioners and district officers of the border districts had been alerted and asked to keep strict vigil.

A rapid response team had been formed centrally to oversee the awareness drives in the state.

UNI