Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Experts call for surveillance on avian influenza

Thiruvananthapuram: Public health experts have called for increased surveillance, including clinical, virological and serological surveillance, for avian influenza and to map out poultry farms in the State, which should be considered as high-risk zones.

At a Public Health Update on avian influenza, organised by the Department of Community Medicine, Medical College, K. Vijayakumar pointed out that the avian influenza virus should be considered a potential source for the next pandemic and that it was essential that the inter-sectoral coordination was strengthened.

The departments of animal husbandry, forests and agriculture should function together and equip a centre at the district-level to tackle the disease in the event of human cases. Verbal and pathological autopsy should be conducted in all cases of unknown fever deaths.

It has been proved scientifically that those working in poultry farms, especially those who handle the birds and those who prepare the birds to be sent to shops as poultry meat, are a high-risk group for the bird-to-human transmission of the virus.

It is important that awareness programmes on the disease were carried out amongst them and that behaviour change – such as wearing protective gear and gloves while handling birds – were induced in them.

Dr. Vijayakumar also suggested that the medical officers in the periphery are kept up to date on avian influenza threat and the available medical options before them. They should be trained to approach any un-diagnosed fever deaths or clustering of unexplained fever in high-risk groups (poultry workers) with caution.

While the message should be sent across to the field staff and the public, care should be taken not to create panic as so far, there have been few reported cases of bird-to-human transmission of H5N1 virus.

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