Precautions to be taken while handling suspected birds

Stringent health precautions are essential during handling of suspected ailing / dead birds for sample collection as the disease is highly contagious for humans. So it is imperative that all persons collecting samples should wear protective clothing and care should be taken that neither the veterinarian nor assistants puncture the skin of their hands.

Treatment

As it is a viral disease there is no treatment. Supportive therapy can be given. Due to the emergence of resistant strains use of Amantadine for treatment is banned in poultry. Anyway once the disease is confirmed as highly pathogenic, all the birds are to be culled as early as possible as a control measure to prevent the spread of the disease.

Vaccination

Inactivated oil-emulsion vaccines are effective in reducing mortality, preventing disease, or both, in chickens and turkeys. These vaccines may not, however, prevent infection in some individual birds, which go on to shed virulent virus. So they are not safe for use in an area where out break has not occurred.

Control and Eradication

The practice of accepted sanitation and biosecurity procedures in the rearing of poultry is of utmost importance. In areas where waterfowl, shore birds, or sea birds are prevalent, the rearing of poultry on open range is incompatible with a sound AI prevention program. Appropriate biosecurity practices should be applied, including the control of human traffic and introduction of birds of unknown disease status into the flock. Cleaning and disinfection procedures are to be strictly adhered to for the control of this deadly disease.

Considering the social as well as the economic importance of the influenza pandemic threat, the Govt. of India insists on the following guidelines for prevention and control of spread of HPAI infection.

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