H5N1 virus: Central experts visit bird flu affected village

Experts from the Union health ministry on Saturday took stock of the situation at Hathijan village in the district where over 1,400 birds were culled following the death of Guinea fowls brought from Mumbai due to bird flu.

"Two experts from Centre's health ministry arrived here yesterday and were joined by another expert today. They carried out survey in Hathijan area and talked to locals as well as 52 persons who have been quarantined," Ahmedabad Collector Avantika Singh said.

Singh said the situation was under control and the quarantined persons will remain under observation for at least ten more days as required by Centre's bird flu protocol.

Fifteen members of the NGO Asha Foundation and 37 members of the animal husbandry department who carried out culling of birds have been quarantined, she said.
Over 1,400 birds in the area, including those kept at an animal health care centre run by the Foundation, were culled by the animal husbandry department after avian influenza virus (H5N1) was confirmed to be the reason behind the death of seven birds which were brought here by the NGO.

The district administration is also constantly monitoring the area through separate teams formed for the purpose after announcing 1-km area from the centre as an alert zone, and another 10 km area as an affected zone, Singh said.