On 16 July 2012, the Government of India (GOI) notified the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) of notifiable avian influenza (NAI) freedom in Orissa State, concluding its efforts to control three outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in 2012.

The first of these outbreaks occurred in the state's Khurda district near Keranga and was reported on 11 January 2012. The second of these outbreaks occurred in the Bahanada area of Mayurbhanj district and was reported on 18 January 2012. A third outbreak was reported on a government-run poultry farm in Orissa's Nayapalli village, Bhubaneswar municipality, on 4 February 2012.

The Keranga and Nayapalli areas were declared NAI free with retroactive effect from 30 April and 5 June 2012, respectively, following measures taken to control and contain the outbreak. Later, on 16 July 2012, the GOI declared NAI freedom for the Bahanada area with effect from 11 July 2012. The related OIE notification can be accessed at: 16 July 2012 OIE notification.

India declares regional NAI freedom: The notification of NAI freedom in Orissa is India’s second declaration of regional NAI-freedom. On 19 June 2012, India declared NAI freedom for a particular region (Meghalaya State), rather than the entire country for the first time.

Further Reading You can visit the Avian Flu page by clicking here.