Karnataka - Bangalore   

Officials allay fears on spread of bird flu

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, JAN. 27. The Animal Husbandry Department officials here said there was no cause for worry with regard to bird flu (Avian Influenza) in the State as no cases had been reported in the country so far.

A watch had to be kept to check the entry of the disease into the country, a department official said in the wake of reports of bird flue cases in South-East Asia and Pakistan, with human fatalities in Thailand and Vietnam.

"Since we do not import poultry and since bird flu has not been reported in the State, there is no cause for concern for breeders and poultry farms here.

But vigil should be kept at the airport and other entry points, so that people from the South Asian countries, which have reported bird flu among chicken and people, are screened and infected persons are restricted from coming into India.

We have to keep a watch for symptoms such as fever, cough, and cold," Rafeeq Anwar, Director of Animal Husbandry, told The Hindu.

Meanwhile, the airport authorities are yet to start screening people entering from South East Asian countries.

The airport has not received any directive from the Central Health Ministry to screen passengers coming from South East Asia.

"As soon as we get word from them we will start doing the needful," an Airport health official said.

Bangalore has regular flights coming from Bangkok, Singapore, and Malaysia every week.

Bird flue is spread by the infected birds through saliva, excreta, and nasal discharge.

According to the World Health Organisation, birds that survived infection excreted the virus for at least 10 days orally and in faeces.

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