THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI TASLIMUDDIN)
(a): The present wave of Avian Influenza(Bird Flu) commenced in Hong Kong in 1997.India,
however, remained free of the disease till 2006. The outbreaks in India are as below:-
1. First outbreak - Navapur (Maharashtra), (18.2.06) Uchchal (Gujarat)
2. Second outbreak Jalgaon (Maharashtra)
(a) Phase I - 14.03.06
(b) Phase II - 28.03.06
(c) Phase III - 04/05.04.06
(d) Phase IV - 18.04.06
3. Third outbreak - village Chingmeirong, (25.07.2007) East Imphal district, Manipur.
(b) The Government of India shares cost of compensation for culled birds, destruction
of feed and feed materials and operational expenses (on defined heads). The Government of
India share is charged to the scheme `Assistance for States for Control of Animal Diseases`
(ASCAD). In the 2006 outbreaks an expenditure of 785.12 lakhs has been indicated by the
States of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh on compensation for poultry and feed of
which 50% is central share. The Government of India will contribute as per approval
pattern on operations in Manipur.
(c) The steps taken to control and contain and to prevent the spread of Avian Influenza
in poultry are at Annexure.
Annexure
Measures taken to prevent the spread of the disease
The following measures were taken in Manipur to prevent the spread of Avian Influenza:
1. Demarcation of infected and surveillance areas was carried out in accordance with
the Action Plan. An area of 0-5 kms. was designated as the Infected Zone and a further area
of 5-10 kms. was designated as the Surveillance Zone.
2. The poultry, both backyard and commercial, has been culled in a radius of 0-5 kms
around the affected farm premises. Approximately 3.36 lakh birds have been killed in the
control operations.
3. Other infected materials such as poultry eggs, feathers, feed, feed materials,
protective cloth used by the staff engaged in operations etc. has also been
destroyed. Approximately 25,242 kg of feed material and 28 thousand eggs have been destroyed.
4. Thereafter cleaning and disinfection of the infected premises/ area has been
undertaken, which is under progress.
5. Physical surveillance in the 5-10 km area is being continued to ascertain if
there is any further unusual mortality. No unusual mortality has been reported in the
surveillance zone as well as from anywhere else in the State.
6. The Government of India has maintained strategic reserve of poultry vaccines. The
option of vaccination is thus available to the country. However, vaccination has not yet
been introduced in the country.
7. The personnel involved in containment work were provided personal protective
equipment and brought under cover of Tamiflu by the health authorities.
8. It is the policy of the Government of India to pay compensation to owner for
culled poultry. The costs are being shared on a 50:50 basis with the State Government.
Approximately 75 lakhs Indian Rupees have been paid as compensation.
Moreover, the following measures have also been taken up by the Government of India to
prevent spread of the disease to other States:
1. Action Plan for Preparedness, Control and Containment of Avian Influenza for
Animal Husbandry has been prepared and circulated by Government of India to facilitate
action by the State Governments.
2. Import of poultry & poultry products has been banned completely from Avian
Influenza positive countries.
3. All the State Governments have been alerted to be vigilant about the outbreak
of the disease if any.
4. Border security formations arid custom field formations have been alerted.
5. State of the north-east specially those bordering outbreak countries like
Bangladesh, Myanmar and China have been alerted.
6. Nationwide surveillance is continuing. Approximately 1,43,000 samples have been
tested at High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL), Bhopal since February 2006.
7. Testing for Avian Influenza have also been started at Regional Level viz.,
Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratories, Kolkata, Bangalore, Pune and Jallandhar. So far,
approximately 37,000 samples have been tested in the regional laboratories.
8. The training of veterinary personnel in preparedness, control and containment
started in October 2005 at regional level is continuing. The training was shifted to
State level basis by the Government of India from September 2006. More than 30% of the
veterinary workforce under employment of Government has been trained as Master-Trainers for
further field trainings.
9. A National workshop on Preparedness, Control and Containment of Avian Influenza
was organized at Pune during May 2007 and recently a Regional Workshop of the North-Eastern
States (Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh,
Nagaland and West Bengal) was organized at Kolkata by Government of India from 26-28th
July 2007.
