Status Report on Avian Influenza in Assam and West Bengal as on 18.12.08
	15:35 IST

WEST BENGAL          Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, GOI has notified Avian Influenza Outbreak in Englishbazar block, Malda District of West Bengal on 15.12.2008.  Containment measures have been instituted and microplan has been developed. The active surveillance in 0-3 Km has started to cover a total population of 33,065 in 0-3 Km area. 94 health workers have been deployed for active surveillance. Isolation ward in Malda district hospital has been identified. The State Govt has been provided with ventilators, PPE and Oseltamivir during the last outbreak the stock of which is available with them. Additional 5000 capsules of Tamiflu has been kept at Regional Director office of  MOHFW, Kolkata. Culling activity has started. 127 animal health workers are under chemoprophylaxis. ASSAM Department of Animal Husbandry had notified avian influenza in Block Gobardhana, Barpeta District and Block West Nalbari, Nalbari District (on 4.12.08) in Rani and Rampur block of Kamrup district (01.12.2008) and Hajo block of Kamrup district (27.11.08). Outbreaks have also been notified on 10.12.2008 in Block Sidli Chirang [District Chirang] and  Bezera, Guwahati Municipality [District Kamrup] and Dibrugarh Municipality [District Dibrugarh].  Further outbreaks have been notified on 16.12.2008 in Bojali block [District Barpeta], Boitamari block [District Bongaigaon] and Guwahati Block/Municipality [District Kamrup (Metro)].  Central RRTs already stationed in these districts would cover the containment operations.  Brief of containment operations ·         Culling activities has been completed in blocks of Hajo and Rani/ Azara in Kamrup district. Culling activities are on in other epicenters. A total of 11,234 birds were culled [cumulative 3,80,169]. ·         A total of 564 Animal Health workers were deployed for the culling activity. They are on Chemoprophylaxis. Surveillance ·         Central government has deployed RRTs in all epicenters. They are working with the  state RRT teams. ·         Active house to house surveillance is being followed in 0-3 km zone in all epicenters and in 3-10 km in phases. A population of 1,94,876 was covered in 0-3 Km area and 2,26,975 in 3-10 km area. ·         130 cases of Upper Respiratory Infection [URI] with fever were detected [78 in 0-3 Km and 52 in 3-10 Km]. None of them had  history of handling dead or sick birds.  ·         104 cases of URI with fever in the outpatient in the identified health facilities. ·         1357 health workers were deployed for surveillance. ·         Available details of epicenter-wise surveillance is at annexure-I. DS/GK/flue report/425