The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has approved India’s self-declaration of freedom from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in specific poultry compartments.
Key points
- The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying submitted a self-declaration of freedom from HPAI in 26 poultry compartments to WOAH on 13th October.
- Zoning and compartmentalisation are strategic tools used to establish and maintain groups of animals with specific health statuses for the purposes of international trade and disease prevention or control.
- Compartmentalisation involves defining a sub-population of animals with a specified health status within the national territory.
- The maintenance of this status relies on stringent management and husbandry practices that adhere to the standards outlined in the WOAH Terrestrial Code and recommendations related to specific disease chapters.
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)
- HPAI, commonly known as bird flu, was first detected in India in Maharashtra in February 2006.
- Since then, the country has experienced annual outbreaks of HPAI in different regions, leading to substantial economic losses.
- The disease has been reported in 24 states and Union Territories, resulting in the culling of over nine million birds to control its spread.
- India’s approach to controlling HPAI follows a “detect and cull” policy as outlined in the National Action Plan for Prevention, Control, and Containment of Avian Influenza.
- This comprehensive response includes the humane destruction of infected and exposed animals, eggs, feed, litter, and other contaminated materials.
World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)
- The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) was founded in 1924 as the Office International des Epizooties (OIE). In May 2003 it adopted the common name World Organisation for Animal Health.
- The Organisation was founded as a response to a cattle plague called rinderpest, which swept across the globe, ravaging livestock and devastating livelihoods.
- As an intergovernmental organisation, it focuses on transparently disseminating information on animal diseases, improving animal health globally and thus building a safer, healthier and more sustainable world.
- Headquartered in Paris, the Organisation maintains permanent relations with over 70 international and regional organisations and has Regional and Sub-regional Offices worldwide.
