The Department of Animal Husbandry in the Ministry of Agriculture has reported on February 18, 2006 that test reports of some samples from affected poultry from Navapur, District Nandurbar of Maharashtra have confirmed as positive for H5N1 strain of Avian Influenza.

The Ministry of Health had deputed its Rapid Response Team to Maharashtra on February 16 and to Gujarat on February 19, 2006. The teams are in the field and assisting the State health authorities in carrying out active surveillance to identify suspected cases among contacts of infected poultry.

The Navapur sub-district hospital has been strengthened. Fifteen isolation beds have been created and dedicated staff identified for treating cases, if reported. Separate fever-cum-respiratory disease OPD has also been set up.

As on February 18 there are six cases of Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URI) with mild fever having history of poultry deaths in their back-yard farm. None of these cases have any Pneumonia. Two of these cases are being kept under observation in the isolation ward of Navapur sub-district hospital. Fifty-one clinical samples have been sent to National Institute of Virology, Pune and 44 samples to National Institute of Communicable Diseases, Delhi. The samples are being tested as per protocol. Reports are expected in four days, a Government release said.

The Department of Animal Husbandry has started the culling of birds as per contingency plan. The Central Rapid Response Team has sensitized the cullers on proper of use of personal protective equipments and self care. Health status of cullers is being monitored.

Culling operations have commenced in Navapur, Nandurbar District, Maharashtra. Sixty Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) headed by Livestock Development officers have been formed to cull the affected poultry. Officers of Government of India and the State Government had also conducted a detailed training in control and containment operations on February 18. Forty-five teams were deployed to start culling operations. Another 15 teams were kept ready to press into service as per ground situation.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has dispatched additional 9000 doses of Tamiflu and 2000 sets of PPE to Maharashtra and 2000 doses of Tamiflu and 1000 PPE to Gujarat. Additional doses of vaccines are being procured for further strengthening the Central Strategic Reserve.

The Ministry of Home Affairs have issued advisories to chief secretaries of all States / UTs to keep poultry under surveillance and report above average mortality and any unusual sickness of poultry or migratory birds in the said district to Department of Animal Husbandry and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

Bird Flu (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza HPAI) is a serious threat to poultry. Avian Influenza has infected poultry in several countries of Asia, Africa and Europe. The virus being highly contagious, bird flu has the potential to cause large-scale loss of poultry. Close contact with infected birds can lead to human infection also. Human beings - especially children - who come into contact with live infected birds or their mucus / droppings / feathers are at risk of getting infected.

Symptoms of infection in humans can be similar to 'Flu' with difficulty in breathing, high fever, cold and running nose.