With more states reporting avian flu cases and several also investigating mysterious casualties of wild birds, crows and chickens, the central government has stepped up its cooperation with local authorities to deter the spread of the disease.
The Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department has pursued improved surveillance of possible hot spots for the transmission of diseases and has demanded continuous contact. Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Gujarat are six other states where bird flu has been reported so far, in addition to Uttar Pradesh.
Delhi bans the import of live birds and closes for 10 days the city's largest poultry market in Ghazipur. Samples were submitted for examination to the Jalandhar laboratory. A 24-hour helpline for people with questions has been set up. In every Delhi district, rapid response teams have been created. Bird stores, wildlife establishments, and water sources are being examined by veterinary officers.
In the past three days, at least 24 crows have been found dead in a district park in southern Delhi's Jasola, and 10 ducks have died in the famed Sanjay Lake. The lake has been closed, along with three recreational parks.
In view of the outbreak affecting birds in neighbouring states, Punjab has been declared a "controlled area" A total ban was also imposed on the importation into the state of live animals, including poultry and unprocessed poultry meat, until 15 January.
In 13 districts of Madhya Pradesh, bird flu has been reported, while about 1,100 crows and other wild birds have been found dead in 27 districts. In the district of Agar Malwa, a poultry market was suspended for a week after the virus was found in one sample there.
In the Balod district of Chhattisgarh, many chicken and wild birds allegedly died in unexplained circumstances on the night of 8 and 9 January. A rapid response team was formed by the state government to investigate the incident and samples were sent to a laboratory.
900 chickens died at a poultry farm in the Parbhani district of Maharashtra, where a probe was launched. The National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases has also submitted samples of some dead crows from the districts of Mumbai, Thane, Dhapoli, and Beed for research.
The operation of culling birds has been completed in Kerala's two impacted districts. The state has released post-operational surveillance instructions. To retain an eye on trends, a central team has arrived in the province.
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying wrote to the Secretaries-General of the States and Territories of the Union requesting them to monitor the situation and to keep effective contact with health officials open, in particular with regard to preventing the transmission of the disease to humans. They were also asked to monitor bodies of water, bird markets, zoos, farms of poultry, and all the local areas.
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has demanded states to ensure that PPE kits and accessories are eligible for use in the killing of birds and the disposal of carcasses and bird waste.
State governments have also been asked to tackle rumors affecting buyers of poultry goods. It is anticipated that they will raise awareness of their protection, especially after boiling or cooking the items.
