Soreng: Confirmed cases of Avian Influenza (H5N1) have been detected in poultry at Buriakhop Ward No. 4 under 28-Buriakhop GPU and Songri Ward No. 3 under 07-Takuthang Chuchen GPU in Soreng district, prompting the District Collector-cum-District Magistrate to issue a containment order with immediate effect on February 23.
Issued under the provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and in compliance with directions from the Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services Department, the order declares infected zones around the affected locations and places the entire areas under 28-Buriakhop GPU and 07-Takuthang Chuchen GPU under strict surveillance.
Restrictions have been imposed on the movement of live poultry, birds, eggs, meat, feed and related materials from the infected zones. Live bird markets in the affected areas will remain closed until further orders, and check-post level monitoring has been directed to prevent any unauthorised movement.
Animal Husbandry Minister Puran Kumar Gurung said the government is closely monitoring the situation and that a detailed report will be placed in the public domain. He noted that avian influenza outbreaks have occurred in the past and are managed in accordance with established biosecurity and containment protocols.
“Immediate action is being taken upon detection, including humane culling of affected birds to prevent further spread. Disinfection and sanitisation drives are underway, required medicines have already been supplied, and spraying equipment has been upgraded to strengthen the response,” he said.
He urged the public not to panic and assured that poultry farmers and individuals who have suffered losses will be compensated as per government norms.
Additional Director of the Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services Department, Dr Kishor Thapa, who is supervising field operations, confirmed that standard operating procedures were activated immediately after laboratory confirmation of H5N1.
He said a multi-departmental rapid response team comprising veterinary officers, field staff and support personnel has been deployed at both locations to ensure strict enforcement of containment measures.
Dr Thapa said humane culling of infected and exposed poultry will be carried out systematically as per Government of India guidelines, beginning from the outer perimeter of the infected area and moving inward towards the epicentre to minimise the risk of cross-contamination.
He added that safe scientific disposal of carcasses, litter, feed and other contaminated materials will be undertaken through deep burial or other approved methods under official supervision.
He further stated that active surveillance has been intensified within the notified zones, with door-to-door monitoring of backyard and commercial poultry units.
Samples will be collected periodically from birds within the surveillance area and sent for laboratory testing until all results return negative and the outbreak is formally declared contained.
Biosecurity advisories have also been issued to poultry owners, including restrictions on farm access, mandatory disinfection of equipment and vehicles, and immediate reporting of any unusual bird mortality.
Dr Thapa emphasised that avian influenza primarily affects birds and that the risk to humans remains low, though precautionary measures are essential. He advised residents to avoid handling sick or dead birds and to inform authorities immediately in the event of sudden poultry deaths.
District authorities reiterated that containment and surveillance measures are being rigorously enforced to prevent further spread of the virus and to safeguard animal and public health across the affected areas.
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