Bird flu confirmed in dead migratory birds in Himachal Pradesh

SHIMLA: ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Disease, Bhopal has confirmed Avian Influenza virus (H5N1) among the dead Bar Headed Geese in Pong Dam area Kangra district. Till Monday over 2,300 birds have been found dead in the Pong Dam reservoir. Following this, district magistrate, Kangra, Rakesh Kumar Prajapati has imposed ban on the sale, purchase, slaughter and exports of poultry products and fish within the area under the jurisdiction of sub-division Fatehpur, Dehra, Jawali and Indora of Kangra district.
Himachal Pradesh Wildlife Department had sent five samples of Bar Headed Geese lifted from Pong Dam for testing at Bhopal laboratory and samples were received on Monday morning at around 10.30 am.Real time RT-PCR test conducted at laboratory has established that all the birds were positive for H5N1 Avian Influenza virus.
Sources said that earlier 250 to 300 birds were being found dead in the Pong Dam area but on Monday their number increased as around 600 birds were found dead.
According to the order issued under Section 34 of Disaster Management Act, 2005 by District Magistrate Kangra, all shops and farms involved in the sale, purchase or export of poultry/birds/fish will also remain closed.
No movement of animals for the purpose of grazing will be allowed within one kms radius of Pong Dam or Alert Zone and Deputy Director Animal Husbandry, Kangra, has been directed to deploy adequate staff to monitor and check grazing activity.
Order says that Chief Conservator of Forests, Wild Life, North at Dharamshala will ensure the quick burial or disposal of dead birds and disinfection of infected area under their area of jurisdiction, surrounding or outside the area of Pong Dam while beyond the jurisdiction of forest department the burial or disposal of dead birds and disinfection process will be carried by the Deputy Director Animal Husbandry.
Both Chief Conservator of Forests, Wild Life, North at Dharamshala and Deputy Director Animal Husbandry have been directed to constitute Rapid Response Teams fully equipped with PPE kits and sanitization materials for the purpose.
Chief Conservator of Forests has also been directed to keep the record of mortality or sickness of birds under their jurisdiction while outside it Deputy Director Animal Husbandry will maintain the record.
Chief Medical Officer, Kangra, has been directed to ensure stockpiling of necessary medicines, PPE kits and to keep vigil of the human transmission of the suspected Avian Influenza beside to keep ready details of testing laboratories for Avian Influenza.
It was on December 29 last year that the field staff of Pong Dam lake wildlife sanctuary were ordered to search the entire area of the sanctuary for deaths of other migratory birds and 421 migratory birds were found dead in Majhar, Bathari, Sihal, Jagnoli, Chatta, Dhameta and Kuthera areas of wildlife range Dhameta and in Guglara area of Jawali Beat of Wildlife Range Nagrota. Later when more area was checked, more birds were found dead under mysterious circumstances.
Deputy commissioner-cum-district magistrate, Kangra, Rakesh Kumar Prajapati on January 1 had issued the orders directing that no human and domestic livestock activity will be allowed in and around one km periphery of Pong Dam reservoir (from where dead birds were recovered) till further orders and this area has been declared Alert Zone while next 9 kms area of Alert Zone will be Surveillance Zone wherein all departments will keep strict vigil and watch.