The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : State might get lab for testing bird flu

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 27, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

State might get lab for testing bird flu

Y. Mallikarjun

The venture, aided by World Bank, likely in Hyderabad or Tirupati

HYDERABAD: A modern World Bank-assisted laboratory of international standards to test sera samples of poultry for bird flu is proposed to be established in Andhra Pradesh -- either here or in Tirupati.

A decision on the location is expected to be taken by the Government of India in a couple of months. It would be a "Bio-Security Level" facility and set up with an investment ranging from Rs. 5 crore to Rs.10 crore, Director, State Animal Husbandry Department, L. Mohan told The Hindu .

Meanwhile, two vaccine production centres in Hyderabad and Samarlakota, besides a State-level and 22 district Disease Diagnostic Laboratories (DDLs) were being modernised by the State Government with an investment of Rs. 60 crore this year. The centres produce vaccines required for cattle, sheep and poultry. "We are expanding them by introducing good manufacturing practices as per international protocols with the help of Indian Veterinary Research Institute," he added.

He said the State was "very vigilant" with regard to bird flu and "active surveillance" was being undertaken in the wake of the latest instructions from the Centre following the outbreak of the disease in Bangladesh. The State accounts for one-third of the country's poultry production.

Every month 800 samples were being sent to Bangalore for testing since November last and Rapid Response Teams, ranging from 20 to 70 for each district have been constituted, depending upon "poultry density" in that region.

Remote chance for flu

Dr. Mohan said "no unusual mortality" was recorded till now, adding that the chances of bird flu getting transmitted in such hot conditions to the State were remote.

Besides, Andhra Pradesh was only exporting and not importing from any other State. The farmers in the State were also following "very good bio-safety measures".

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