Lok Sabha Question No. 3247 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-16
Subject: Migratory Birds as Source of Avian Influenza
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Rajendra Dhedya  Gavit, Chandra Sekhar Sahu, Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik, Shrirang Appa Barne, Ravi Kishan Shukla, Bidyut Baran Mahato, Subrata Pathak, Sudheer Gupta

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY & DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY & DAIRYING LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3247

TO BE ANSWERED ON  16 TH  MARCH, 2021

## 'MIGRATORY BIRDS AS SOURCE OF AVIAN INFLUENZA'

3247. SHRI  RAJENDRA  DHEDYA  GAVIT: SHRI  CHANDRA  SEKHAR  SAHU:  SHRI SANJAY  SADASHIVRAO MANDLIK:  SHRI  SHRIRANG  APPA  BARNE:  SHRI  RAVI KISHAN: SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO: SHRI SUBRAT PATHAK: SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

## Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING मत्स्यपाऱन , पशुपाऱन और डेयरी मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- a) whether migratory birds are the potential source of Avia Influenza in the country;
- b) if so, the number of migratory birds annually visiting in various States including the State of Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha;
- c) whether any study has so far been conducted in this regard, if so, the details in this regards;
- d) the  details  of  States  covered  for  Avian  Influenza  Test  at  RDDL  (ER),  Kolkata  and  at NIHSAD, Bhopal; and
- e) the details of time taken by laboratories for conducting/completing Avian Influenza Testing in these two laboratories and in other such laboratories in the country, State-wise?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY & DAIRYING (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a) to (c) Yes sir, migratory birds could be one of the potential sources for introduction of Avian Influenza virus into the country. As per World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), wild birds, as  natural  host  and  reservoir  for  all  types  of  Avian  Influenza  viruses,  play  a  major  role  in  the evolution, maintenance, and spread of these viruses. ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal has taken up a project on 'Surveillance of avian influenza in  wild/  migratory  birds'.  As  for  the  number  of  migratory  birds  visiting  various  states  of  the country annually, the Department does not maintain any such data.

(d)            Eastern  Regional  Disease  Diagnostic  Laboratory  (ERDDL),  Kolkata  is  involved  in testingAvian Influenza for the States/UTs of West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Sikkim and Andaman  &  Nicobar.  However,  as  an  OIE  recognized  reference  laboratory,  ICAR-NIHSAD, Bhopal provides confirmatory diagnostic services on Avian Influenza to all the States and UTs.

(e) There  are  5  (five)  Regional  Disease  Diagnostic  Laboratories  (RDDLs)  located  regionwise  at  Bengaluru  (Southern),  Pune  (Western),  Jalandhar  (Northern),  Kolkata  (Eastern)  and Guwahati  (North-Eastern)  and  one  Central  Disease  Diagnostic  Laboratory  (CDDL)  located  at ICAR-Indian  Veterinary  Research  Institute  (IVRI),  Izatnagar,  Bareilly  involved  in  testing  for Avian  Influenza.  However,  ICAR-NIHSAD,  Bhopal  is  the  National  Reference  Laboratory  for confirmation of Avian Influenza.

As per information,ICAR-NIHSAD and the other laboratories provide results for the emergency samples received from all states in almost 12-48 hours depending on the time of receipt of the eligible samples there.

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