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No need to panic, says Anbumani

Special Correspondent

“Steps taken to stop spread of bird flu”

Says no report of people being affected
Government taking steps to create awareness

CHENNAI: Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Anbumani Ramadoss clarified here on Sunday that there was no reported case of people being affected by the bird flu and that there was no need to panic.

“Not a single case [of people being infected] has been reported so far and we are taking all measures to stop the spread of the bird flu. One lakh birds have been culled in the three districts in West Bengal and necessary action has been taken,” Dr. Ramadoss said.

On Saturday, officials said the disease had spread to Burdwan and Nadia districts. The West Bengal government indicated that around four lakh birds will have to be culled.

Acknowledges delays

Dr. Ramadoss acknowledged that there were “delays” in handling the problem in the early stages. “Now the West Bengal government is improving and action is proceeding at full-speed,” he said.

The government had taken steps to create awareness on the disease. “The government has instructed its administration that as soon as they suspect anything, the concerned authorities have to be alerted,” he said.

A substantial quantity of the required pills was made available and self-help groups were given access to the pills.

Global problem

Dr. Ramadoss said that part of the problem in addressing the disease was its global scale.

“Our neighbouring countries Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia and Myanmar have been affected,” he said.

“We cannot stop birds coming in from other countries. It is not only India’s problem, as it has also spread to European countries and Africa.”

On the outcome of the Sambasiva Rao Committee report on one-year compulsory rural service for medicos, Dr. Ramadoss said he had not yet received the report.

“It will come to be within the next month. After studying it, we will take an appropriate course of action,” he said.

Pictorial warning

Dr. Ramadoss indicated that display of pictorial warning signs on cigarette packets was not far away.

“The High Court in Himachal Pradesh has put a stay on it until March, but it will be done,” he said.

A committee under External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee would soon give its recommendations on the nature of the warnings, following which a decision would be announced in the coming months, he added.

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