Animal Husbandry Dept starts preventive surveillance, sampling

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 19

Following detection of the bird flu case at Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh, the district authorities have also initiated surveillance measures to ensure proper safety of people in the district. An alert has been issued to inspectors to keep a strict check on poultry farms and areas near wetlands regarding any untoward activity with respect to poultry or birds being perceived.

While there is 18 sanctioned posts of poultry inspectors across a region – which includes Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr and Ludhiana – currently the region has only 12. However, department sources have said they have been put on the job and surveillance of poultry farms as well as wetlands in the region is on.

Department officials say even more than poultry farms, regions with migratory birds in them are under the scanner because chances of the virus spread a wetlands are more. However, so far no unusual activity has been reported from any place.

Notably, with the Regional Disease Diagnostics Laboratory (RDDL) in Jalandhar, the district is also in a position to have poultry tests conducted promptly.

Deputy Director of the Animal Husbandry Department JS Ghumman said, “We have instructed inspectors all over the district to carry out surveillance and keep an eye out on the reportage of any spontaneous or mass deaths or birds in any area. While an initial review of all farms had been done, so far the district is perfectly safe and no unusual activity has been reported. The specific H5N1 virus cannot be detected from symptoms and tests are mandatory but mass deaths are a potent sign. Both surveillance and investigation in the area is on and any mass deaths will immediately be reported to us. So far, there have been none.”

The Assistant Director, Poultry, Dr Iqbal Singh, said, “We are also carrying out monitoring in the region, the report for which will arrive with us soon. Our poultry inspectors are active in the field. Samplings are also being carried out at various places. Inspectors are keeping a look out at poultry outlets for every 5 kilometres. We have also been carrying out regular monitoring every month for the past two to three years. While one to two percent mortality at poultry farms is normal, chances for the disease can only be in case of high mortality which hasn’t been reported.”

While speaking on the efforts being made at the Kanjli Wetlands to The Tribune , Dr Iqbal said, “Our inspector at Nadala is on the job and any high mortality will be immediately reported.”

What Civil Surgeon Dr RL Bassan says

While we are spreading all kinds of awareness on the issue, the measures, as far as poultry is concerned, have to be taken by the Veterinary Department. Officials, however, have been asked to make preparations regarding the isolation ward at the Civil Hospital and we are prepared for all kinds of exigencies regarding the issue.

Fact file

• 12 poultry inspectors put on job across five districts. 
• An inspector also deputed to keep a lookout on the  local Kanjli Wetlands.
• Officials say they are only following procedure. So far no untoward activity or high mortality in birds reported in the district, hence it is safe.