Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya | National | Fri, November 02 2012, 4:14 PM
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Thursday, November 1, 2012
WHO sends experts to help Uganda stop the spread of Marbug Haemorrhagic fever
WHO sends experts to help Uganda stop the spread of Marbug Haemorrhagic fever
Concerted efforts are underway in Uganda to control the outbreak of the Marbug Haemorrhagic fever.
The first case of the deadly viral case was reported on October 19 in Kabale district of south western Uganda.
To date the at least 20 cases have been reported in at least five districts including the capital Kampala.
Dr Joachim Saweka WHO representative in Uganda gave UN radio's Patrick Maigua the latest regarding the outbreak.
Chinese chicken waste containing toxic residues of antibiotics
While Vietnam is cheap surplus chicken, hens discarded from China super cheap still en masse spill into the water, most likely chicken contaminated toxic waste by the use of antibiotics and drug delivery eggs.
Chinese chicken waste imported to Vietnam (Photo: The Chi)
Chinese chicken waste journey to Vietnam
Talking to PV Conference implement disease prevention and control trade in livestock and poultry on 1/11 in Ho Chi Minh City, Nguyen Thanh Son, Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry Department (MARD) scene reported, with large growth of flocks, combined with the economic downturn continues and longer lasting stress, people still tighter spending would lead to the end of 2012 market surplus chicken. Adjectives So far this year, the number of poultry reached 330 million, an increase of 2.5% compared to the same period in 2011. Currently, the price of chicken meat is very low in northern industrial chicken prices at 29,000 - 30,000 VND / kg, the South has 25,000 - 26,000 dong.kg. With this price, farmers are holes from 2,000 - 4,000 VND / kg.
It is worth mentioning that while Vietnam is cheap surplus chicken, chicken cull chickens smuggled Chinese super cheap prices still massively smuggled into the country. Per day there are about a dozen buses carrying from 40,000 to 100,000 birds. One estimate, there were about 170,000 tons of chicken smuggled steam, this is a startling number, equal to half the number of chicken import quota of 1 year.
Gathering places layer disposed at most at the gate Chi Ma, Tan Thanh Lang Son and Mong Cai, Quang Ninh. In fact, this color is chicken feed to the farms of China, after the end of the laying cycle about 48 weeks.However, when the Vietnamese know their consumption of chicken waste, only for about 42 - 43 weeks and then fattened and sold to traders.Vietnamese traders going to take place to "collect" on a very cheap price, plus the cost of shipping only takes about 15,000 VND / kg.
After returning home, the chicken has not been consumed in a hurry that just "hiding" in the Vietnamese farm about ten days to cover the eyes of the authorities. After that, we hit the market with the label "dai chicken" but no one knows it is the Chinese chicken. For example, when on to Mong Cai, will team up to 30,000 - 35,000 VND / kg. That is not to say, if included in the poultry markets such as the market Ha Vy - Hanoi, the level will range from 65,000 to 70,000 VND / kg.
"Due to the large profits so the recruiter always despite all the tricks. If caught, they are ready to dispose of the shipment. Therefore, the case of smuggled chickens the authorities arrested just as salt neglect, "Son said.
Smuggled chickens, enter always virus
According to Van Dang Ky, Chief of Epidemiology, Department of Animal Health, the chicken cull in water will overflow control diseases, especially avian influenza. All virus groups A, B, C are widely circulated and provinces from the North Central, South. Most likely this virus comes from China, spreading from waste chicken smuggled sugar in Vietnam. By regular, ever, chicken "bald" China go to where the virus in poultry go there. This would be an incalculable danger to people and pets.
That is not to say, food safety can not be guaranteed. "Although not proven quality Chinese smuggled chicken but make sure it contains toxic residues for the Chinese to use antibiotics indiscriminately. Moreover, usually, just about 2 weeks hens injected with antibiotics once to prevent disease, the culture period longer than 1 year should be a very high amount of residual antibiotics. Not to mention, to the deep egg yolk, farmers also use food coloring industrial heavy metal impurities to mix food ... So, the Chinese do not have to eat this chicken, "Son said.
MARD also forecast, from now to the end of the year to serve the market for Chinese New Year 2013, imported chicken will also in many countries.Therefore, if the authorities do not control the illegal import of poultry, livestock will not survive. Dangerous than our country from an agricultural background to import chicken meat.
| Reducing imports of Korean chicken
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said this to the Korean import chicken still safe due to having no chemical residues of antibiotics. However, the Korean chicken prices so cheap that consumers still need to be noted. Since the beginning of this year, Vietnam imported more than 6.1 tons of chicken Korea, accounting for 11.7% of total chicken imports. Whole frozen chicken is entered, no head, no legs, with the price of 17,050 VND / kg. Besides, at present, a number of supermarkets has fallen in and stop selling chicken Korea.
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Vietnam-Smuggled poultry worsens avian flu situation: officials
Thu, November 1, 2012
Amidst concerns about the H5N1 avian flu that has spread to 32 provinces and cities, the uncontrolled smuggling of poultry form China into Vietnam has worsened the situation, say many officials.
Amidst concerns about the H5N1 avian flu that has spread to 32 provinces and cities, the uncontrolled smuggling of poultry form China into Vietnam has worsened the situation, say many officials.
Speaking at yesterday’s conference on combating epidemics and controlling the trade of cattle and poultry, held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) in Khanh Hoa province, Pham Van Dong, head of the Veterinary Department, blamed the cross-border smuggling of poultry from China for the increasing spread of avian flu.
Illegally transporting poultry without quarantine or quality certification from China into Lang Son and Quang Ninh provinces has increased the seriousness of the avian flu situation, in which new and more dangerous virus strains have appeared.
Most provinces from Lang Son to Quang Ngai have recently suffered from such new strains, including those in the C group that are more dangerous than previous strains, causing more deaths among poultry.
Diep Kinh Tan, MARD deputy minister, said, “the results of genetic analysis of the new avian flu virus in Vietnam are similar to those made on counterpart viruses in China. That means the smuggling of poultry has not only damaged domestic traders but also brought more pathogens into Vietnam.”
Meanwhile, the fight against cross-border smuggling faces numerous difficulties since smugglers use tracks through northern forests or around mountains, helping them avoid detection, Dong said.
This has resulted in poor performance in seizing, handling and punishing poultry smugglers, he added.
Meanwhile, health experts have confirmed that a new strain of avian flu virus that was found in China in July has appeared in Vietnam.
The new strain, 2.3.2.1 C, which has been detected through epidemic investigations, is highly toxic and therefore extremely deadly, Tan said.
The 2.3.2.1 C strain has recently spread to Vietnam and is now present in many provinces and cities, including Hai Phong, Ha Tinh, Ninh Binh, Nam Dinh, Bac Kan, Thanh Hoa and Quang Ngai, said the Veterinary Department.
As the new strain is different from the A/H5N1 virus, the ministry has pushed to conduct experiments and tests to confirm if the vaccines that are being used to combat A/H5N1 are also effective against the new strain.
So far this year 616,000 poultry have either been culled or died due to the avian flu in 32 provinces and cities.
So far this year 616,000 poultry have either been culled or died due to the avian flu in 32 provinces and cities.
In Quang Binh, the provincial Veterinary Department said it would destroy 7,300 chickens and ducks that were carried without documents in a truck on National Highway 1 yesterday. http://www.tuoitrenews.vn/cmlink/tuoitrenews/society/smuggled-poultry-worsens-avian-flu-situation-officials-1.90722
Mutating virus calls for more changes
Thursday, November 01, 2012
Hong Kong is likely to change its bird flu vaccine for poultry more regularly, as the H5N1 virus keeps on mutating, according to veterinarian and epidemiologist Howard Wong Kai-hay.
Wong helped test the mainland-developed Re-5 vaccine on two Hong Kong farms in early November 2010. The government has decided to use its latest version, the Re-6, from later this month in the fight against bird flu.
"Re-5 and Re-6 are identical apart from the fact that the antigen, the viral seed, is different," Wong said.
"In terms of its production and quality control all that is basically the same. Like the human flu vaccine, you just change the seed each year to match the strain."
Since 2003, Hong Kong has been using the Intervet Nobilis H5N2 vaccine against H5N1 in poultry, as part of bird flu prevention measures.
"Almost 10 years down the line the virus has changed quite a lot," Wong said.
The Harbin Veterinary Research Institute in the mainland developed the Re-5 vaccine three years ago and earlier this year came up with an updated version, Re-6, he said.
The Intervet vaccine's effectiveness is becoming less effective as the virus mutates.
The Re-6 vaccinewill be used at Hong Kong's 30 chicken farms.
Some 1.2 million chickens produced at the farms in three-month cycles will have to be vaccinated at eight days old and then a month later.
"They will be then be bloodtested before sending to the market to ensure that their antibody levels are sufficiently high to protect them," Wong said.
The first batch of poultry vaccinated with Re-6 will be ready for the Lunar New Year.
H5N1 first hit Hong Kong in 1997, killing six out of 18 people infected.
MARY ANN BENITEZ
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=4&art_id=127891&sid=38078938&con_type=1&d_str=20121101&fc=7
Culling of birds still on to stop disease spread
Published: Thursday, Nov 1, 2012, 15:49 IST
Scientists and workers at the Central Poultry Development Organisation & Training Institute (CPDOTI) in Hsaraghatta near Bangalore on Wednesday have culled an ostrich along with 13,342 ducks 369 emus and destroyed 11,939 eggs.
In an intensified effort to check the spread of the disease to within Hesaraghatta at least 25 rapid response teams have so far also culled 19,235 chickens at the poultry unit as per the revised action plan-2012 guidelines of Government of India.
The sanitisation process of the sheds and pens in which these diseased birds were were housed is in progress, according to a statement issued by Aravinda Ramachandra Jannu, principal secretary, animal husbandry & fisheries department.
Surveillance work in 10-km radius of surveillance zone is in progress and the teams have so far collected 119 serum samples and 119 cloacal samples (samples of opening to intestinal, reproductive and urinary tracts) and submitted them for laboratory investigations. However, no unusual death in birds has been noticed in the surveillance zone or in any part of the State.
The measures also included declaring an area of 1-km radius around as a sanitised zones in which all the birds were planned to be culled. The Centre had confirmed the outbreak of avian influenza at CPDOTI on October 25 when animal husbandry minister Revu Naik Belamagi announced that 3,481 turkeys had died to to the avian flu over the past few weeks which forced the officials to cull 784 others.
Subsequently, 206 deaths among te chicken at the poultry unit and 17 ducks in the duck unit caused more concern, forcing the department officials to send 50 serum and 41 cloacal samples to High Security Animal Disease Laboratory in Bhopal on Sunday, which returned the results the very next day stating that they had tested positive for avian influenza.
Although there is a rapid spread of the disease among the birds, so far there has not been a single case of human infection detected. However, CPDOTI and animal husbandry department officials are yet to be informed about the precise nature of the H5N1 virus that is suspected to have infected the birds. HSADL in Bhopal has not been able to identify whether the virus has been mutated and to what extent.
Considering the rapid spread of the disease among the birds, CPDOTI experts are sure that it is a virus which has high pathogenicity (the power to spread infection).
Over the years, experts globally have learnt that more the mutations in the H5N1 virus, higher is its capability to result in infections in the human populations living in the vicinity of the epicenter of the outbreak.
Keeping vigil
Surveillance is on in 10-km radius of the area and rapid response teams have so far collected 119 serum samples and 119 cloacal samples and submitted them for laboratory investigation.
http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_culling-of-birds-still-on-to-stop-disease-spread_1758890
Published: Thursday, Nov 1, 2012, 15:49 IST
Surveillance is on in 10-km radius of the area and rapid response teams have so far collected 119 serum samples and 119 cloacal samples and submitted them for laboratory investigation.
NIV braces for bird flu outbreak in state
Fri Nov 02 2012, 01:12 hrs
The recent death of 3,000 turkeys and other birds at Hesaraghatta near Bangalore has put NIV on alert to brace for an avian flu (H5N1) epidemic. “The Centre has requested us to pitch in with help in case there is any outbreak of bird flu in Maharashtra and Gujarat,” NIV director Dr A C Mishra told Newsline This is a lethal virus and has been gaining a stronghold in the country. There have been outbreaks earlier in Maharashtra, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
Avian influenza surveillance measures are in place and so far there has been no threat to humans, Mishra assured. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/niv-braces-for-bird-flu-outbreak-in-state/1025433/
India-All birds culled, eggs destroyed at unit
All birds culled, eggs destroyed at unit
Zilla panchayat worries about unreported instances of bird flu
Culling of all birds and disposal of poultry eggs at the Central Poultry Development Organisation (CPDO), where the Union government has notified the outbreak of avian influenza (H5N1), were completed on Wednesday. This comes amidst worry expressed by elected representatives at the Bangalore Rural Zilla Panchayat meeting over the spread of the disease to neighbouring areas because of possible unscientific disposal of birds.
Big numbers
Over 33,000 birds, including an ostrich, 369 emus, 13,342 ducks and 19,235 chickens housed at CPDO have been culled since Tuesday as directed by the Union government. Some 700 turkeys also have been culled after 3,600 died of the influenza.
Sanitisation of the 52 sheds and pens within the CPDO is still on even as the source of the outbreak remains elusive.
Overcome by emotion
“All birds have been culled and disposed of. We will make a new beginning and a fresh set of birds will be brought after 90 days,” a senior CPDO official told The Hindu . “It was difficult for us to cull the birds [as we have been rearing them],” the official added, his voice choking with emotion.
A team from the National Centre for Disease Control visited the Hesaraghatta farm on Wednesday to ascertain whether the health protocol for CPDO employees was in place, particularly administering anti-viral drugs.
Arvind Jannu, Principal Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry, said no unusual death of birds has been noticed so far, and authorities were monitoring the situation. There is some anxiety over the wet weather triggered by Cyclone Nilam. Even as the authorities are struggling to contain the outbreak, veterinary doctors warn that the rain could help spread the highly pathogenic avian influenza.
Random permissions
Meanwhile, people in parts of Bangalore Rural district adjoining Hesaraghatta are tense about the spread of the flu, considering the district has a large number of privately owned poultry farms.
In a heated discussion at the Bangalore Rural Zilla Panchayat meeting on Wednesday, member M.N. Ram said there were about 1,500 private poultry farms which are not being closely monitored. He claimed private poultry owners dumped dead birds on National Highway 4, sending those living in the vicinity into a flap.
“Permission to open these farms is given by the gram panchayats. There is no coordination between them and the Health Department. So accountability is not fixed,” said Mr. Ram.
Though veterinary officials sought to allay fears saying that there were no reported cases of the disease in Bangalore Rural district, it didn’t help as members pointed out there were not enough pre-emptive measures in place.
Though there was a rule that a poultry farm could not be opened within a 100-metre radius of any habitation, there are instances of gram panchayats flouting it in return for a hefty fee. “Even the fee amount is not fixed and each gram panchayat charges at its own whim,” Mr. Ram said.
To this Mr. Jannu conceded that if birds are disposed of clandestinely, the government would not be any wiser. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/all-birds-culled-eggs-destroyed-at-unit/article4052908.ece?textsize=large&test=1
Vietam not Handling the avian outbreak, cattle
Handling the avian outbreak, cattle
Friday, 11.02.2012, 01:35 (GMT +7)
(SGGP). - On 1-11, the conference implementation of disease prevention and control trade in cattle, poultry and the South East and the Mekong Delta by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development held in Ho Chi Minh City , Deputy Minister Diep Kinh Tan stressed that from now until the beginning of 2013 was a period of disease of cattle and poultry conditions appear, spread; especially H5N1, fairly complex evolution. So, the local is not subjective, they appear to focus on treatment, not to spread causing huge damage. Particularly in the Mekong Delta to continue vaccination vaccine, so this approach is effective, no ramifications virus as in central and northern.
Meanwhile, according to the Department of Animal Husbandry, from now until the end of the year, monthly import 10,000 - 13,000 tons of meat, mainly chicken, two times the average monthly imports nine months. Due to weak purchasing power, the price of meat in the last months have only increased by 8% - 10%.
In addition, the amount of waste chicken smuggled into Vietnam via border surge. From 70,000 to 100,000 tons of poultry smuggled into Vietnam, nearly 50% of imported meat this year, increasing the risk of infectious diseases of poultry in the country, due to highly pathogenic viruses, causing rapid death . http://www.sggp.org.vn/ytesuckhoe/2012/11/303121/
Vietnam-Chinese chicken waste flooding the market
Thursday, 11/01/2012 21:26
Chicken waste from China into Vietnam Where to bird flu virus is spreading to it
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development recently held conference "Implementation of disease prevention and control of trafficking in cattle, poultry and the South East and the Mekong Delta" on May 1-11 in Ho Chi Minh City.
... According to information provided from the conference, chicken smuggled from China to where avian influenza viruses are new to it so the evolution of avian diseases in our country today is very complex.Rising epidemic in 2012; communes, districts poultry increased 2-3 times compared to the previous year. Bird deaths also increased sharply. Avian influenza also occurs scattered in the High Consul Dong Thap, Vinh Long, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang Tien Giang, Kien Giang, Ca Mau ... Translate nearly "coverage" nationwide.
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Son fears of disease increase, imported frozen meat products for many farmers in the country will suffer heavy losses. Therefore, producers will cut production lead to lack of cattle and poultry for Tet market. Currently, the price of pork, chicken are below cost, while continuous feed prices should not encourage breeding. http://nld.com.vn/20121101091229972p0c1042/ga-thai-trung-quoc-tran-ngap-thi-truong.htm
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Marburg haemorrhagic fever in Uganda – update (29 October 2012)
Marburg haemorrhagic fever in Uganda – update (29 October 2012)
31 October 2012 - As of 29 October 2012, a total of 19 cases and 9 deaths have been reported from 5 districts namely Kabale district, in south-western Uganda, Kampala (the capital city), Ibanda, Mbarara and Kabarole. The case fatality rate is 47.4%. The outbreak was declared by the Ministry of Health in Uganda on 19 October 2012. One of the 9 deaths reported is a health worker.
Currently, 13 patients have been admitted to hospital (2 in Kampala, 8 in Kabale, 3 in Ibanda) and their contacts are listed for daily follow up. The latest confirmed case was admitted to Ibanda district isolation ward on 26 October 2012.
Currently, 13 patients have been admitted to hospital (2 in Kampala, 8 in Kabale, 3 in Ibanda) and their contacts are listed for daily follow up. The latest confirmed case was admitted to Ibanda district isolation ward on 26 October 2012.
Blood samples from 9 cases have been confirmed for Marburg virus at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI).
The World Health Organization (WHO) and international partners including, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Uganda Red Cross (URCS), African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) and Médecins-Sans-Frontières (MSF) are supporting the national authorities in outbreak investigation and response. The national task force has identified additional health care workers and epidemiologists to strengthen the teams in the field. Training of health workers on infection prevention and control, surveillance and clinical case management is ongoing. Social mobilization is ongoing including the dissemination of IEC (Information Education Communication) material, sensitization on Marburg preventions and control and broadcast of information through radio channels. The first shipment of personal protective equipment (PPE) provided by WHO arrived over the weekend.
The WHO Regional office has deployed an epidemiologist and a logistician to Uganda to support the response teams on the ground. In addition, a social mobilization expert from WHO Zambia Country Office and a logistician from the Regional Rapid Response Team network have been mobilized for immediate deployment. More experts are being identified by the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN).
As the investigation into the outbreak continues, WHO and partners continue to support the national authorities as needed in the areas of coordination, infection prevention and control, surveillance, epidemiology, public information and social mobilization, anthropological analysis and logistics for outbreak response.
Neighbouring countries have been contacted to strengthen cross border surveillance and preparedness to prevent cross border spread of the outbreak.
WHO advises that there is no need for any restrictions on travel or trade with Uganda.
For more information
The World Health Organization (WHO) and international partners including, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Uganda Red Cross (URCS), African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) and Médecins-Sans-Frontières (MSF) are supporting the national authorities in outbreak investigation and response. The national task force has identified additional health care workers and epidemiologists to strengthen the teams in the field. Training of health workers on infection prevention and control, surveillance and clinical case management is ongoing. Social mobilization is ongoing including the dissemination of IEC (Information Education Communication) material, sensitization on Marburg preventions and control and broadcast of information through radio channels. The first shipment of personal protective equipment (PPE) provided by WHO arrived over the weekend.
The WHO Regional office has deployed an epidemiologist and a logistician to Uganda to support the response teams on the ground. In addition, a social mobilization expert from WHO Zambia Country Office and a logistician from the Regional Rapid Response Team network have been mobilized for immediate deployment. More experts are being identified by the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN).
As the investigation into the outbreak continues, WHO and partners continue to support the national authorities as needed in the areas of coordination, infection prevention and control, surveillance, epidemiology, public information and social mobilization, anthropological analysis and logistics for outbreak response.
Neighbouring countries have been contacted to strengthen cross border surveillance and preparedness to prevent cross border spread of the outbreak.
WHO advises that there is no need for any restrictions on travel or trade with Uganda.
For more information
India-25 teams culling and disposing of birds
TNN | Oct 30, 2012, 04.20AM IST
BANGALORE: Ten teams are involved insurveillance work in the 10-km-wide affected zone around the Central Poultry Development Organization (CPDO) at Hesaraghatta. "Twenty-five rapid response teams are involved in the culling and disposal of the birds on the CPDO farm," says Aravind Jannu, principal secretary, animal husbandry department.
A school on the CDPO premises has been closed for 15 days, the official said.
Last week, an action plan was activated in the CPDO farm and its vicinity after tests confirmed that 3,481 turkeys had died of avian flu in the institute. About 800 turkeys were later culled.
An alert was sounded in 68 villages within 10 km of Hesaraghatta. About 1.5 lakh poultry birds are housed in the commercial and private farms in these villages.
The forest department has been alerted about the situation and directed to take up surveillance of stray, wild and migratory birds. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/25-teams-culling-and-disposing-of-birds/articleshow/17012911.cms
India-Culling begins, State government bans movement of poultry
..Surveillance work
Six teams, involved in the surveillance work, collected 175 samples in the surveillance zone on Tuesday. No unnatural deaths of birds were noticed in the surveillance zone or in any part of the State, a department communiqué said.
Mr. Jannu said the source of the outbreak was yet to be ascertained, and currently the Government was working towards containing the spread of the flu.
On the ban of poultry movement from Karnataka to Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, he said: “The commercial aspect of the ban can be dealt with later. We don’t want the virus to cross into the civilian areas, which can cause much more damage than the current ban by neighbouring States.”..
No human case
Health Department sources said no case of H5N1 among humans had been reported in the State so far. “While workers in the CPDO were being screened on a daily basis, villagers in the surveillance zone are being screened regularly,” an official said..
Egypt-Veterinary Bank": the declaration of a state of "emergency" to combat bird flu
Sources Directorate Medicine Veterinary province Western declare a state of emergency and begin launching campaigns veterinary various farms poultry , fearing the spread or discover spots pandemic flu birds after the emergence of foci in the provinces face nautical neighboring province. ordered Dr. Wafik star Prime Directorate Medicine Veterinary Gharbiya forming teams of veterinary services in conjunction with local units to take samples from birds farms for analysis to make sure they are free of the disease in anticipation of the emergence of foci of infected avian influenza. comes these procedures result of the emergence of hotbeds infected in some neighboring provinces and the death of the amount of chicken in one farm Governorate Dakahlia and also the emergence of foci of many one centers province Menoufia and Dakahlia and Kfraheik causing the deaths of
thousands of birds heads.
India-Ground zero cooped up in worry
TNN | Oct 31, 2012, 04.57AM IST
An ostrich peeps out of the fencing around theCentral Poultry Development Organization(CPDO) in Hesaraghatta every time it hears humans approaching.
The lone flightless bird, described by CPDO staff as human friendly, is now apparently longing for human company as most staffers keep try to keep away from it, given the raging bird flu scare in the area.
The ostrich is a rare survivor of its kind on the 500-acre CPDO campus that has been reduced to a graveyard of domesticated birds. It has not been culled given its healthy status, staff said. Thousands of other turkeys, chickens, emus and ducks on the campus were not as lucky and have been culled already, while a few remaining are only waiting for their turn to be killed.
The CPDO has even barred most its staff from entering the enclosures where these birds had once been housed. Only those taking part in the culling operations are seen in these pockets and that too in protective suits and masks. On Tuesday, these masked men in astronaut-like suits were seen carrying huge lumps of white plastic like material which were then dumped in four pits.
"These pits are 20 feet deep, 12 feet long and three feet wide. We shall cover these pits by evening," one masked man told TOI.
According to the masked men, they have culled almost all flu-hit birds and are in the process of sterilizing the sheds. "Anti virus liquids, mostly containing potassium permanganate, are being sprayed all over the place," they said.
Meanwhile, two staff members came out of a unit and were seen washing their legs with potassium permanganate.
To prevent the bird flu virus from spreading, small bowl like concrete ponds have been put up in front of every cage. "All those who enter have to dip their feet in these bowls that are filled with potassium permanganate. Even vehicles have to rinse and wash their tyres in these ponds before moving ahead," an employee said.
15-day-old flu?
A CPDO staffer told TOI that the bird flu was first discovered at the campus in mid-October. "Initially, it did not spread to other birds. Before we could realize, it was all over the place," he said.
No poultry movement
The deputy commissioner of Bangalore Urban district has banned marketing and movement of all poultry and poultry products to and from the surveillance zone declared in areas within 10 km of the Central Poultry Development Organization (CPDO), Hesaraghatta. The ban will remain in place till November 15.
About 1.5 lakh poultry birds are said to be housed in hundreds of commercial and private farmsin 63 villages situated in the surveillance zone around Hesaraghatta.
The surveillance zone has been declared as part of an action plan to prevent the spread of bird flu after an outbreak of avian influenza was announced on CPDO campus last week.
"Till Tuesday, 19,154 chickens have been culled and disposed of as per the guidelines" said an official release.
According to the release, 81 chickens, 13,673 ducks and 369 emu birds are yet to be culled and the same would be done at the earliest. Fifty-two sheds of birds too will be sterilized soon, it said.
Six teams involved in surveillance work have collected 175 samples and sent the same for investigation. No unusual death of birds was noticed in the surveillance zone or in any part of the state on Tuesday. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Ground-zero-cooped-up-in-worry/articleshow/17027722.cms
India-Bird Flu struck two months ago, claim villagers
Flu struck two months ago, claim villagers
Bangalore, Oct 30, 2012, DHNS:
The avian flu incidence at the Central Poultry Development Organisation (CPDO) at Hesaraghatta could have occurred at least four to five weeks before authorities first reported it, according to villagers.
However, the cause for the highly pathogenic avian Influenza at Hesaraghatta near here is still unidentified.
A few poultry farmers around Hesaraghatta say that they had lost their birds to the flu much earlier than it was officially reported. A poultry unit at Tammarasanahalli, Hesaraghatta hobli, near the CPDO farms, had reported bird deaths.
Hanumantappa, owner of a farm, told Deccan Herald that at least 300 birds that he and his friends had reared died of the flu two months ago. “When our birds became sick, we consulted a government vet. He visited the place once, but was indifferent to our alerts. We lost all the birds,” he said.
The villagers said the doctor blamed them for not taking care of their birds well. “That discouraged us from pursuing the matter,” he said.
“We came to know just two days before the outbreak of the epidemic was reported on news channels. Immediately, the CPDO asked us to alert the villagers,” said Govinda Raju, a panchayat member.
Aravind Jannu, Principal Secretary, department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, refuted the claim of the villagers. But he promised to look into the matter. He also said that over 19,000 chicken were on Tuesday culled at the CPDO. “As many as 19,154 chicken (out of 19,235 chicken) at CPDO have been culled and disposed of,” he said.
Kerala ban
Following detection of avian influenza in Karnataka, Kerala has banned movement of poultry from both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. http://www.deccanherald.com/content/289060/flu-struck-two-months-ago.html
However, the cause for the highly pathogenic avian Influenza at Hesaraghatta near here is still unidentified.
A few poultry farmers around Hesaraghatta say that they had lost their birds to the flu much earlier than it was officially reported. A poultry unit at Tammarasanahalli, Hesaraghatta hobli, near the CPDO farms, had reported bird deaths.
Hanumantappa, owner of a farm, told Deccan Herald that at least 300 birds that he and his friends had reared died of the flu two months ago. “When our birds became sick, we consulted a government vet. He visited the place once, but was indifferent to our alerts. We lost all the birds,” he said.
The villagers said the doctor blamed them for not taking care of their birds well. “That discouraged us from pursuing the matter,” he said.
“We came to know just two days before the outbreak of the epidemic was reported on news channels. Immediately, the CPDO asked us to alert the villagers,” said Govinda Raju, a panchayat member.
Aravind Jannu, Principal Secretary, department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, refuted the claim of the villagers. But he promised to look into the matter. He also said that over 19,000 chicken were on Tuesday culled at the CPDO. “As many as 19,154 chicken (out of 19,235 chicken) at CPDO have been culled and disposed of,” he said.
Kerala ban
Following detection of avian influenza in Karnataka, Kerala has banned movement of poultry from both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. http://www.deccanherald.com/content/289060/flu-struck-two-months-ago.html
Marburg Research Institute Set Up in Uganda
The government together with Centre for Disease Control (CDC), have set up a temporary virus research institute at Ibanda and a diagnostic laboratory at Kabale Referral Hospital in an effort to reduce the delays and help contain the Marburg cases identified.
Uganda: Marburg More Serious Than HIV/Aids - Director
Addressing a press conference yesterday at media centre Dr. Acheng Jane Ruth, the director general health services made the statement after journalists demanded for the names and pictures of patients at Mulago hospital to illustrate how bad the situation was.
In frustration Acheng said that if she did that it would be against professional ethics and it would make rehabilitating these people back in society hard since people will be running a way from them.
This came into play when Acheng was asked to clarify about one officer Dr. Sheila Ndyanabangi, the head of the Mental Health Unit Division, who is said to be under isolated observation as one journalist claimed to have called her and she told him she was in office.
To that Acheng said Ndyanabangi is not infected with Marburg but got in contact with one of the patients and has not shown any symptoms.
She warned journalists to stop writing that Ndyanabangi is a Marburg patient because that has stigmatized her. And for the case of her being in office, Acheng said that Ndyanabangi had gone to complain about reports that were published by red pepper that she is indeed infected with Marburg.
Acheng emphasized that although 436 contacts have been put under close observation, only 12 have been admitted as patients with the Marburg disease. She explained that being admitted and being closely observed are totally two different things.
Being observed is when you have been in contact with victims and being admitted is when results show that you have developed antibodies against the virus (Marburg).
On that note Acheng said that HIV/AIDS kills you slowly while Marburg just runs you through the last minutes of your life. http://allafrica.com/stories/201210300524.html
Ban meetings in districts with Marburg – MPs
Publish Date: Oct 31, 2012
MPs want public celebrations, meetings and gatherings suspended in marburg-affected districts.
“There is going to be the 50th independence anniversary celebration in Mbarara on November 2. Such gatherings should be suspended until these places are declared marburg-free,” Dr. Medard Bitekyerezo, the Mbarara municipality MP, appealed yesterday
He was responding to a statement by health minister Dr. Christine Ondoa on the status of marburg outbreak in the districts of Kabale, Mbarara, Ibanda and Kabarole.
Ondoa reaffirmed the Government’s efforts to avoid the spread. “We are going to suspend public gatherings and meetings in places of the outbreaks. Uganda is an epidemic-prone country and disease outbreaks are frequent and more funds and personnel are needed for this division,” she said.
Stephen Tashobya, the Kajara County MP, asked the ministry to pay risk allowances to health workers managing the marburg outbreak. http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/636923-ban-meetings-in-districts-with-marburg-mps.html
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