Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Road-map to contain bird flu in State

Danger from the sky: Birds, both migratory and domestic, are under watch to check avian influenza.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Animal Husbandry Department (AHD) has worked out a roadmap to contain a possible outbreak of avian influenza in the State as the migratory season has already set in.

AHD Director R Vijayakumar told The Hindu here that even though there were no reports of any outbreak from anywhere in the country, the strategy had been worked out as per a directive of the Union government to take precautionary measures.

Samples from migratory birds were being collected regularly as part of the strategy. Samples were also collected from domestic birds in areas where migratory birds frequented. Birds entering through border check-posts were also being screened.

Samples collected from suspected cases were being referred to the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory, Bhopal, whereas regular screening was being done at the Southern Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Bangalore. The collection of samples was being monitored by the regional disease diagnostic laboratories and the Chief Investigation Office of the AHD, in the State capital.

Dr. Vijayakumar said 835 serum samples were collected for bird flu investigation in the current financial year.

Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) comprising 100 members each had been constituted in all districts. The team members included livestock inspectors and attendant staff from local bodies and health services. They had been given training on how to act in case of an emergency, use of personal protection equipment, culling operations and disinfection of premises.

A committee with the District collector as convener had been constituted in the districts to coordinate the interventions in emergency situations.

Officials from the AHD, Health Services, local bodies, Public Works Department and the Forest Department were members of the committee.

Public awareness programmes were conducted at the panchayat level itself. Training programmes were conducted for veterinarians at the State and district levels. The Union government allocated about Rs.40 lakh for capacity building at the veterinarians’ and field staff levels, Dr. Vijayakumar said.

Personal protection equipment, fumigants, disinfectants, logistics for sample collection, materials for preservation and despatch had been stocked in all districts. “The strategy is being constantly monitored by the State Animal Disease Emergency Committee,” the AHD Director said.

When contacted, ornithologist P.O. Nameer, State coordinator, Indian Bird Conservation Network, said there had been no reports of any unusual incidents from anywhere in the State this time, though the migratory season set in September.

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