AVIAN INFLUENZA (36): INDIA (CHHATTISGARH) CHICKEN, QUAIL, H5N1
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Source: Latestly [edited] https://www.latestly.com/agency-news/india-news-bird-flu-outbreak-in-chhattisgarhs-raigarh-17000-chickens-quails-culled-6609811.html
At least 17 000 chickens and quails were culled in Chhattisgarh’s
Raigarh after avian influenza was detected at a state-run poultry farm
in the district, officials said on Saturday [1 Feb 2025].
The authorities have stepped up vigil within a 10 km [6.2 mi] radius
of the affected area, they said.
After some chickens were recently found dead at the poultry farm in
Chakradhar Nagar here, samples were sent to the Bhopal-based National
Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) for testing, an
official release stated.
The tests confirmed the H5N1 virus on Friday night [31 Jan 2025],
following which Raigarh Collector Kartikeya Goel convened an emergency
meeting with senior officials to devise a strategy to deal with the
situation, it said.
An official said that as per the standard procedure, personnel from
the municipal corporation and veterinary and health departments
conducted a joint operation overnight, culling 5000 chickens and 12
000 quails and destroying 17 000 eggs and poultry feed on the farm.
He said the concerned departments were activated to ensure the
situation was brought under control before sunrise and the infection
did not spread outside that area.
The affected poultry farm was sealed, and a 1 km [0.62 mi] radius of
the farm has been declared an “infected zone” and a 10 km [6.2 mi]
radius a “surveillance zone,” the official said.
As per protocol, poultry birds, eggs, and poultry feed will be
destroyed within the infected zone, and their movement will be
completely banned. For this, the animal husbandry department will
provide compensation to owners of poultry birds.
Poultry and egg shops will be closed in the surveillance zone, the
statement said.
Officials have confirmed that no human population was affected due to
the bird flu outbreak.
Dr Bhanu Patel of the Raigarh health department said the [avian
influenza virus] spreads mainly among birds and animals, and there
have been no cases of the infection spreading to humans in India.
He, however, said people need to remain cautious about the symptoms
and risks of infection.
Dr Patel said the health department team would conduct a door-to-door
survey and health check-up within a 1 km [0.62 mi] radius of the
poultry farm so that people with [avian influenza] symptoms are given
precautionary treatment.
He urged people to remain alert to symptoms like fever and visit the
nearest health centre for timely treatment.