10-day intensive surveillance, containment operation completed at Hesaraghatta govt poultry farm

BENGALURU: The Department of Health and Family Welfare, in coordination with the Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services Department, has successfully completed a 10-day intensive surveillance and containment operation following the detection of highly pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1) at the State Poultry Rearing Training Centre in Mathkuru village, Hesaraghatta, on April 14.

Once the outbreak was confirmed, following laboratory reports from the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD-Bhopal), state and district rapid response teams, along with Hesaraghatta and Sonnenahalli PHC teams, were immediately deployed. An infected zone of 0-3 km and a surveillance zone of 3–10 km radius was established. The Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services, culled all the birds and safely disposed of eggs and of contaminated feed, adhering to national and international biosecurity protocols, a press release said.

The surveillance zone from the infective focus in the 10-km radius, a total population of 28,172 across 22 villages was surveyed from day 1 to day 10. Multiple rounds of surveillance were conducted and sanitation activities were completed as per protocol.

During the surveillance period, nasopharyngeal samples collected from all quarantined staff on Day 5, sent to NIV-Bengaluru, were found to be negative for H5N1. On Day 10, nasopharyngeal samples have been collected and the results are awaited. No human case of H5N1 infection has been detected in the infected or surveillance zones.

All healthcare facilities in Bengaluru have been instructed to continue ILI/SARI case surveillance, and ensure adequate stocks of PPE, triple-layer medical masks, oseltamivir, viral transport medium, and throat swab kits, the release said.

The Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services issued a sanitization certificate on April 21. No poultry activity will be undertaken for a period of 90 days as a precautionary measure. During the three months of surveillance, the entire area of the farm will be repeatedly disinfected by fumigation (indoors) or sprays (open place) every 15 days.

The public is advised to:

• Avoid handling or consuming meat or eggs from sick or dead poultry
• Report sightings of sick or dead birds promptly to local veterinary or health authorities
• Ensure poultry meat and eggs are thoroughly cooked before consumption, as proper cooking effectively inactivates the virus.
• Follow official health advisories and avoid spreading unverified information or panic.