Culling process continues bird-flu alert in Manipur

Imphal, July 31: Culling of poultry continued today for the sixth consecutive day following detection of Avian Influenza at Chingmeirong, Imphal East.

So far about 1.5 lakh chicken and ducks have been culled by 34 Rapid Reaction Team (RRT) around a five-km radius of Chingmeirong.

Health Minister Ph Parijat said all efforts were being made to check the spread of bird-flu and about Rs 25 lakhs was earmarked to meet any eventuality and equipment worth about Rs 40 lakhs purchased.

The Regional Institute of medical Sciences, Imphal and JN Hospital, Porompat, were preparing for any outbreak of the epidemic among people. Immediately after the announcement of confirmation of avian flu in Manipur, the culling process had started in the state.

The Health Minister said a child was brought to JN hospital, but it was not confirmed whether the child was suffering from the flu.

The Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt of India had informed that Avian Influenza in poultry was reported from a small unit at Chingmeirong, Imphal East District. The blood samples were sent to the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL) Bhopal and to the National Institute of Virology, (NIV) Pune for testing.

These samples tested positive for H5 strain of Avian Influenza.

The government had decided that the birds will be culled within a radius of 5 km from the infected site. In addition, surveillance was carried out within a radius of 5 to 10 Km. The Government compensated the loss due to culling at the rate of Rs 10 per chick, Rs.40 for layers and Rs 30 for broilers.

UNI