New Delhi: Avian influenza cases have been confirmed till January 13, 2021, in ten states. Cases of unnatural deaths of birds have been reported in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir and 4 districts of Jharkhand. A video conference meeting was held on 12 January 2021 under the chairmanship of Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, in which representatives from 17 states participated.
At the meeting, states were advised to make effective arrangements to prevent avian influenza outbreaks in their respective states as per Action Plan 2021.
States have been asked to coordinate with the Department of Health and Forests to deal with the situation and sensitize them in this matter. States have also been asked to maintain adequate supplies of safety equipment and continue biosecurity measures in poultry farms. States have been instructed to identify state-level BSL-II laboratories to speed up infection detection and timely control systems. States have also been asked to ensure that they control poultry infection as it will pay more economic value to poultry farmers. It was found that many states are banning the supply of poultry products from other states. In view of its negative impact on the poultry industry, the states have been requested to reconsider such a decision.
Awareness activities are being carried out by many states through advertisements, seminars, etc. in newspapers. States were encouraged to run such awareness programs in collaboration with their Directorate of Information and Public Relations. He was also assured of the availability of funds for such activities. States should issue advisories on the do’s and don’ts about the consumption of poultry and eggs so as to avoid the spread of rumors and misinformation and the loss of poultry farmers.