The central team is keen on containing the spread of the avian influenza and avoiding it reaching other regions.
Poultry Farm.
Vijayawada: A four-member central team has advised Andhra Pradesh to have strict compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) to contain the spread of bird flu -- from affected poultry farms to other parts-- in the state.
The members arrived here on Thursday. The team comprised RG Bambal, joint commissioner of department of animal husbandry RG Bambal, Ravindra Hegde, joint director from southern regional disease diagnostic laboratory from Bengaluru Ravindra Hegde, senior scientist from ICAR-Nivedi Md Mudassar Chanda and senior scientist from Bhopal-based national institute of high security animal diseases Manoj Kumar.
The team visited the epicenters of the avian influenza-affected poultry farms at Badampudi village of Ungutur mandal in Eluru district, Velpur of Tanuku mandal in West Godavari district and Kanuru Agraharam village of Peravali mandal in East Godavari district and interacted with the poultry farmers.
The members inquired about the possible sources of avian influenza and the compliance with the biosecurity measures and also asked questions about the culling of infected birds under the supervision of the animal husbandry authorities and the procedure adopted for carrying out disinfection of the affected poultry farms.
The central team is keen on containing the spread of the avian influenza and avoiding it reaching other regions. The idea is also to ensure that the poultry industry is not affected as many people have stopped consuming even cooked chicken meat and eggs fearing trouble from the virus.
They would visit the hotspot of the avian influenza at Anumallanka village in Gampalagudem mandal of NTR district on Friday.
Animal husbandry authorities say that, so far, nearly 1.79 lakh poultry birds from five affected places in East, West Godavari, Eluru and NTR districts have been culled and buried in deep pits along with thousands of eggs. They have also taken bio-security steps by imposing curbs on transport of birds from the affected poultry farms and their surrounding areas. Such birds were also culled and buried.
As per standard norms, the affected poultry farms will be thoroughly disinfected. For two months, they will remain shut. Later, animal husbandry authorities would collect swabs of birds stuck to the walls, grills and other parts in the poultry farms and send them to the Bhopal based NIHSAD. Thereafter, permission would be given to the poultry firms to resume work only after lab reports confirmed there was no presence of virus in the swabs. Based on such reports, a sanitation certificate would be issued to the concerned poultry farmers.
The authorities have sent nearly 140 swabs of people working in the poultry farms in the affected areas for analysis to find out whether the avian influenza affected humans. Fortunately, no such infection has been noticed, stated animal husbandry director Damodar Naidu.
The central team would visit AP Secretariat on Friday afternoon and hold talks with officials from the animal husbandry department.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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