RAPID RESPONSE TEAMS OF H.P.

SR. NO.

CRITICAL ISSUES

ACTION TAKEN

Incidence of Unusual High mortality in Poultry population

No incidence of unusual high mortality in poultry has been reported from any part of the State till date.

Risk assessment of target population

Poultry Farm	Total No.	Poultry Population
Government Poultry Farms	14	6107
Private Poultry Farms	324	3,49,292
Backyard Poultry Units	889	28,147

Sensitization of Human Population

Persons in close proximity to the Wetlands and Bird Sanctuaries are being regularly sensitized through Village level Animal Health Camps. Twenty Three ( 23 ) awareness camps have already been organized in the vicinity of Pong Dam- Kangra .

Literature published on “Bird Flu” in local Language (Hindi) is being disseminated through Village level workers, especially to Poultry rearing individuals.

Live/Recorded TV/Radio programs aired on DD Shimla and AIR-Shimla 7/11/05 , 8/11/05 and 6/01//06.

Public awareness on Avian Flu by means of placard display on Tableau for Republic Day'06.

Official Communique

Communication of Action Plan and Instructions regarding provision of Compensation for forced culling, received from the Government of India to all the Deputy Directors of the Department.

Constitution of Rapid Response Teams

Two teams (Cullers and Vaccinators) of 5 members each have been constituted from Shimla and Kangra Districts.

Access Persons/points for communication with the Govt. of India have been notified.

Training to Veterinary Staff.

Phase-manner one-day training on collection, preservation and dispatch of samples for Bird Flu surveillance, especially for the personnel ( VO's and Vety . Pharmacists) employed in close proximity to the Wetlands/Bird Sanctuaries is being carried out at RDDL, Jalandhar on following dates:(2/12/05, 14/12/05, 27/01/06, 21/02/06, 21/03/06 and 24/04/06)

Provision of Surveillance Kits and Protective gear

The Kits for Direct/Indirect Handlers have been procured and distributed to the field functionaries on 28/1/06 .

Organization of Brain-storming session on “Bird Flu” Action Plan for State AH Department.

A one-day Brain-storming session on “ Bird Flu- Etio -pathogenesis and Clinical Diagnosis ” along with the “Action Plan for State AH Department ”, organized on 28/01/06 at the Directorate of Animal Husbandry, HP in which all the Deputy Directors, Assistant Directors and SVOs ' of the Department participated.

Clinical surveillance work undertaken in the State

No. of Birds Screened at Check Posts/Entry Points

3,25,110

till date (June 2006)

No. of Private Poultry Farms Screened

324

No. of Government Poultry Farms Screened

Sero-surveillance work undertaken.

	SERUM		MORBID MATERIAL
Month/Yr.	Routine	Wetlands	Routine	Wetlands	CUMULATIVE TOTAL
6/7/04-4/10/05	425	83	120	-	628
22/11/05	182	35	2	-	219
25/11/05-15/12/05	-	111	-	140	251
15/02/2006	200	-	-	-	200
22 nd Feb	59	340	25	263	687
Feb-June 2006	189	-	14	-	203
PROGRESSIVE TOTAL	1055	229	161	403	2188

Results: for all the samples found to be Negative for HPAI from HSADL, Bhopal. Results awaited: NIL.

CHECKLIST FOR PREPAREDNESS, CONTROL AND CONTAINMENT OF AVIAN INFLUENZA

S.No.	Point of Action	Details of Action Taken/Confirmed/addressed
1.	Overall Preparedness	• Action Plan circulated to all concerned and familiarized with the contents through workshop. • Sufficient Stock of PPE (360) procured and provided to the field functionaries. • Surveillance kit as mentioned in the Annexure-I of Action Plan distributed at District level • Equipment as mentioned in Para 2.11 of the Action Plan has been procured and the one in 2.12 shall be made available in due course. • Disinfectants as mentioned in Para 2.16 are available and supplied. • Fogging Machines (24 no.) have been received from GOI. • We are in the process of procuring vaccinators. • Cold Chain equipment and vaccinator available. Ice-Line Vehicle not available. • 48 Rapid Response Team constituted and (8 have been trained and briefed in detail on how to carry out the containment plan) • DC's have been apprised for coordination of activities in case of containment and control of Outbreak. They have also been familiarized to take strategic actions as per the Action Plan.. • Officers of the AH Department with aspects of control and containment through a day long Workshop / Presentations. • Concerned Departments-Health, Wild Life, Police and District Administration have been alerted to the role to be played in control program. • Compensation shall be met as per GOI norms. • Vaccination shall be carried out as per GOI guidelines.
2.	Collection and Availability of information.	Preliminary information as in Para 1.5 and 1.6 of the Action Plan has been collected and details of the same shall be collected in case of suspicion of outbreak.
3.	Reports to be sent	Necessary Reports shall be sent as per Annexure-II, III of the Action Plan.
4.	Identification of Alert Zone	The Panchayat officials, Civic and Veterinary staff alerted through village level training camps and pamphlets printed in local language (Hindi).
5.	Restrictions to be enforced at the site and alert zone in pending receipt of reports.	As per Para 1.12 of the Action Plan restrictions shall be enforced.
6.	Provide information about restrictions without creating panic.	Concerned authorities already apprised and necessary imposition of restrictions shall be put in force.
7.	Information to be collected pending receipt of test results.	Information shall be collected as per Para 1.14 of the Action plan.
8	Designate VO	DAHO of the concerned District shall nominate/designate the VO who shall be responsible for carrying out the activities ass mentioned in the Action Plan.
9	Notification of Infected and Surveillance e Areas	Area of 3Kms around the infected site shall be the Infected Area and 3-10 Km area Surveillance zone.
10	Information to other Authorities	In case of outbreak the information shall be given to Local authorities and GOI.
11	Contingency Procedures for containment and Irradiation	Shall be done as per the Action Plan Para 2.3-2.8
12	De-population of the affected flock	Equipment for depopulation (such as wooden pole, disinfectants) are available. Phenobarbital shall be procured in due course.
13	Cleaning and Disinfection of the Farm implements.	Adequate disinfectants are in stock and procurement of Fogging machines is in process.
14	Imposition of legislative measures	DC's at the District level have been apprised and requested for the same.
15	Media briefing	It is being done by the official spokesperson.
16	Compensation for forced culling.	DC's have been apprised of the same and are requested to play a lead role in the early payment of compensation as per GOI norms.
17	Vaccination	If need be Vaccine shall be procured in consultation with GOI. Vaccinators will be procured in adequate quantity.Cold chain facility and method of transporting to affected area in Vaccine carrier is available. However, the Ice-Line Vehicle for transport of Vaccine is not available.

Immediate Points To Be Handled if Outbreak is confirmed

S.No.	Activity	Action Taken/Preparedness
1	General	• Latitude/Longitude of closest place to outbreak for landing of Chopper shall be identified if need be. • Communication of Action Plan, Instructions regarding provision of Compensation for forced culling, Vaccination Recommendations and other instructions received from time to time from the Government of India to all the Deputy Directors of the Department. • DC' informed accordingly and are the Chairman of District level Task Force. • Daily reporting being done to Govt. of India. • A control Room setup in the Directorate of Animal Husbandry, HP with contact no. 0177-2830089. • Director, Animal Husbandry shall lead the operations if need be.
2.	Identification of Infected and surveillance zones.	Will be identified, if need be.
3.	Rapid Response Teams	• State Task Force constituted under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, Government of Himachal Pradesh for gearing up the State's preparedness to meet the impending Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) threat and for ensuring surveillance. • 48 teams (Cullers and Vaccinators) of 5 members each have been constituted from all over the State. (4 RRT's per District). Access Persons/points for communication with the Govt. of India have been notified.
4.	Personal Protective Equipment	A total of 360 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Direct/Indirect Handlers have been procured and distributed to the field functionaries. Surveillance kits as mentioned in Annexure-I of the Action Plan have also been distributed in each district.
5.	Tamiflu	Matter taken up with Secretary Health. Director Health informed that if need be Tamiflu shall be available in 24 Hrs.
6.	Regulation to access to infected premises/restrictions on movement etc.	Director General of Police, HP and Deputy Commissioners have been requested to coordinate and implement such regulations.
7.	Clear plan on manner of culling.	Method as used in Maharashtra and Gujrat shall be opted in our state for culling. And we shall procure Phenobarbitone.
8.	Disposal	Methods as mentioned in the Action Plan shall be implemented. The E-in C of PWD requested to render all possible help in this regard.
9	Vaccination	If need be Vaccine shall be procured in consultation with GOI. Vaccinators will be procured in adequate quantity. Cold chain facility and method of transporting to affected area in Vaccine carrier is available. However, the Ice-Line Vehicle for transport of Vaccine is not available.
10	Compensation	Compensation shall be met as per GOI norms.
11	Clean-up and Disinfection	Local labour shall be engaged and JCB engaged through the PWD autoritities. 24 no. Fogging Machines have been received.

RAPID RESPONSE TEAMS OF H.P.

CHECKLIST FOR PREPAREDNESS, CONTROL AND CONTAINMENT OF AVIAN INFLUENZA

Immediate Points To Be Handled if Outbreak is confirmed