‘Bird flu situation is worse than that in 2006’

The current spell of bird flu in Maharashtra is much wide-spread than the one that hit the state in 2006.

The animal husbandry department of the state is busy tackling the outbreak. According to the officials, the avian flu could be brought under control once the migratory birds go away by February-end.

Mumbai Mirror spoke to State Animal Husbandry Commissioner Sachindra Singh. Excerpts:

♦ How many birds have died due to bird flu so far?

A total of 43,622 birds have been found dead that include 41,659 poultry birds, 1,099 crows and 864 other birds.

♦ How many poultry birds have been culled and eggs destroyed so far?

We have culled 6.12 lakh poultry birds, destroyed 1.92 lakh eggs so far, and most of them were from Nawapur and Nandurbar. In Nawapur alone, five lakh birds were culled. Most of the birds culled were not infected, but they were killed because they were in one-km radius of the infected zone.

♦ What are the methods used?

We sedate them and they are decapitated, head is twisted. Later, they are put in gunny bags and buried in pits.

♦ Maharashtra witnessed bird flu in 2006. Is this spell worse?

This one is more severe and wide-spread. The outbreak of 2006 involved H5N1 strain of bird flu and had occurred at 5 epicentres,1 in Nandurbar and 4 epicentres in Jalgaon. The current outbreak has occurred at 52 epicentres in 22 districts and involves H5N1 and H5N8 strains of bird flu virus.

♦ Is it safe to eat chicken and eggs?

Yes. The virus gets destroyed at 70 degrees Celsius in three seconds. Therefore, there is no risk if you eat properly cooked meat or eggs. People should avoid half-boiled eggs or omelletes.

♦ Can avian flu get transmitted to humans?

The first outbreak of bird flu occurred in India on February 18, 2006 at Navapur in Nandurbar district of Maharashtra. There has been no report of human transmission of bird flu in India, till date.

♦ How much of wildlife has been affected due to bird flu?

Samples of dead peacock, pigeon, pond herons, king fisher, owl, crow and humming bird have been received by the Western Region Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Pune. The samples of peacock, pond herons, owl, and crow have been found affected by bird flu in the sample examination. Instructions have already been issued to the regional joint commissioners of the animal husbandry department for carrying out extensive sero-surveillance at the sites visited by migratory birds.

The wild life division of the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change has issued instructions for taking necessary steps to control bird deaths.

♦ Is the state government supporting your actions to control the epidemic?

They are fully supporting me. They have also released a compensation of Rs 3 crore for the poultry industry. Under the Control and Containment of Infectious Diseases Act, district collectors have been empowered to take steps so that timely action is initiated

♦ Is the poultry industry getting any compensation for birds culled?

Yes. So far, Rs 3.7 crore has been released by the government and Rs 45.40 lakh has been deposited in the accounts of poultry farmers.

♦ By when do you feel Maharashtra will be able to tackle bird flu?

The outbreak is primarily due to the movement of migratory birds, crows and in fact, it has been slowing down. It should reduce with the withdrawal of migratory birds. But can’t say.