Ranchi: The district administration of Ranchi has sounded an alert after the first case of Bird flu was confirmed on Wednesday.
Reports said that H5N1 avian influenza was found in the samples of poultry from the regional poultry farm located at Hotwar in Ranchi at ICAR-NIHSAD, Bhopal. After the confirmation of bird flu, the district administration has set up a rapid response team (RRT) to deal with the health menace.
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Deputy commissioner cum district magistrate, Rahul Kumar Sinha said that an alert and health advisory has been issued to check spread of the avian influenza. “An RRT comprising veterinary officers and personnel, has been deployed in the area to take appropriate action. The deputed officials and personnel have been instructed to work in coordination with the district animal husbandry officer and assistant director, poultry, regional poultry farm, Hotwar, Ranchi,” added the deputy commissioner.
Under the action plan, culling of the remaining poultry in the regional poultry farm, Hotwar, Ranchi, disposal through scientific method is to be done by the RRT. Area around the poultry farm would be cleaned and disinfection of the infected area will be done through scientific method.
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The team of veterinary experts and those from the health department will also carry out inspections of all the poultry farms located within the one kilometre periphery of Hotwar’s regional poultry farm. The RRT has been empowered to take quick decision for culling of poultry. Besides, the team will also make a map of the area within a radius of 10 kilometers from the epicenter and mark it as a surveillance zone and carry out intensive monitoring of avian influenza in this area.
As a precautionary measure, the Deputy Commissioner has banned the purchase and sale of any live or dead poultry, poultry products and eggs within a radius of one kilometer from the infected area located at Hotwar, Ranchi. Besides, their transportation will also be banned till further orders.
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A three-member team of experts from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reached Alappuzha to assess the situation following the outbreak of avian influenza (H5N1) at Cheruthana and Edathua in the district.
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The team visited bird flu hotspots and took stock of the situation. It is investigating the disease in detail, including the circumstances that led to the outbreak. The team will evaluate the public health risk of H5N1 and is assisting the health department in taking measures and preparing management guidelines and protocols to deal with the situation.
