The Hindu : Delhi measures to prevent bird flu

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 30, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Delhi measures to prevent bird flu

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, JAN. 29. Delhi's Health and Family Welfare Minister, Yoganand Shastri, today announced a series of measures to prevent outbreak of bird flu in the Capital, including posting of medical officers at all ten toll barriers to monitor the chickens being brought into the city. In fact, 95 per cent of the city's chicken stocks come from the neighbouring States.

Also, medical officers would be posted at the main "mandi'' to keep a check on the health of those in direct contact with the chicken and the meat sold. Those cleaning and slaughtering chicken, who constitute the top spot in the "risk category", will be kept under surveillance and in case any symptoms of pneumonia is detected, the workers would be isolated and treated. Also, regular medical check-up will be conducted at their work sites.

The preventive measures were announced after the Minister met senior officers of the National Institute Communicable Diseases (NICD) besides doctors of all major State government and members of the poultry market association in the city.

The Government has also asked the authorities concerned to adopt positive and preventive measures to combat the disease. Speaking about the instruction issued today the Minister said: "Posters will be pasted at all slaughter places with the directions to buyers on how not to choose a sick bird for their consumption. At present Delhi has four poultry markets -- INA Market, Seelampur, Gole Market and Gazipur - and we have arranged for proper surveillance at these places. If some sick birds are found they will be disposed of properly after getting a post-mortem done.''

Meanwhile, a small functional laboratory will also be set at the Ghazipur mandi to test and isolate sick birds. "The lab has been set up for quick detection and in case a bird displays any symptoms, the lot will be isolated till the affected bird's report is not made available. And in case the results are found positive, the lot will be disposed of,'' the Minister said.

Also, guidelines have been issued to State government hospitals asking them to gear up and prepare for any outbreak. The Delhi Government will also purchase screening kits from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for continuous and easy detection of the flu in birds.

Speaking about the danger posed by illegal meat shop, Dr. Shastri said that a watch will be kept on these stalls and doctors will visit them to monitor the health of the birds and workers there. Also, the Government will be setting up a mobile team of doctors to keep a tab on the current condition.

A release issued by the State Government said that chicken cooked by tandoor or microwave and half-cooked eggs are prone to this disease. "The Government will also be issuing health advertisements for the benefit of the common man telling him not to consume chicken cooked in tandoor and microwave and avoid half boiled eggs," the Minister said.

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