India declared free from bird flu

India has declared itself free from Notifiable Avian Influenza (H5N1), commonly called bird flu, and notified the same to World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

India notified outbreak of Avian Influenza (H5N1) at Poultry Production Unit, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Anjora, Durg and Government Poultry Farm, Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh on August 5, 2013.

According to a Ministry of Agriculture release, the control measures adopted in the outbreak were stamping out of entire poultry population including destruction of eggs, feed, litters and other infected materials in the radius of 1 k.m. around the outbreak location, restriction on movement of poultry, disinfection and cleaning up of infected premises and subsequently issuing of the Post Operation Surveillance Plan (POSP). The POSP was issued on August 12, 2013.

Even though India is free from bird flu, regular surveillance will be continued throughout the country, especially in the vulnerable areas bordering infected countries and in areas visited by migratory birds.