Agro Research Council Investigates Cause of Bird Flu Outbreak in Manipur, India

Since April 20, more than 20,000 birds have been culled in the poultry farm at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research after bird flu outbreak in Manipur.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Manipur is investigating the source of transmission of avian flu or bird flu.

“The virus infecting the poultry birds of ICAR (Imphal) came from an unknown source and the center is still investigating into it though it is very difficult to locate the source of transmission,” said an ICAR official.

Avian Influenza / Bird Flu-Causes-Symptoms-Treatment- FAQs
Bird flu (avian influenza/avian flu) is a disease caused by an influenza virus (H5N1) that primarily affects birds but can infect humans also.

Dr. Blessa Sailo, scientist, ICAR Veterinary and Public Health, said that the bird flu could have spread through bird dropping, air, poultry feed and migratory birds. The scientist also stated that the poultry birds in the ICAR poultry unit were 32 weeks old and not a single bird or egg was imported from outside the state since September, 2014.

Dr. Sailo further said that a heavy rain on April 5 had blown away ICAR poultry unit and five birds were killed. And, just for precautionary measures, samples were sent to the Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Services, to which the cause was identified as Ranikhet disease.

ICAR arranged for sending sample to ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Disease (NIHSAD), Bhopal for further investigation, not for detection of bird flu said Dr. Salio.

Canadian Officials Destroy Chicken Farms, Turkey Farms Infected With Bird Flu
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said that the sudden deaths of some chickens on the farm confirmed the presence of the bird flu virus.

The state authority has reportedly culled more than 20,000 birds after the outbreak of the bird flu in the state since April 20. Besides, around 2335 eggs and 5759 kilogram of feeds were also destroyed.

Bird Flu Spreads Among Wild Birds, Chickens, Turkeys in US; Poses Low Risk to People
Since December 2014, cases of the highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza virus have spread through 16 states in the midwestern and western parts of US.

Source-Medindia

Bird Flu Outbreak in Northeastern India, Culling of Poultry Begins in Manipur
Poultry industry is on high alert after bird culling began at the Indian Council of Agriculture Research on April 20. It is expected to go on for two days.