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Getting practical to combat bird flu
7 February 2010
Supposing a livestock extension officer reported death among wild birds and commercial poultry in Gelephu in Sarpang and the sample from the dead birds tested positive for influenza A (H5). What would the Department of Livestock and other stakeholders do?
This was a scenario assumed by representatives from health and agriculture ministries and officials from other relevant agencies who attended a two-day workshop to test human health response capacity to Avian Influenza in Phuentsholing from January 30 to February 1.
The workshop looked into development of clear-cut policies and strategies, strengthening the capacity of Ministry of Health (MoH) and Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) for prevention and control of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak in the country.
Participants also reviewed the National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan (NIPPP) that was jointly prepared by MoH and MoA in 2005.
Roma Karki, an official from the Department of Public Health, said conducting such exercises was crucial to ensure that the plan would stand the test of a real event. ?The lessons learnt and gaps identified from working through an exercise should be used to revise the plan as well as to identify training needs,?she said.The workshop laid emphasis on preparedness plans at the local, regional and national levels.
Participants recommended that local medical officials should respond to the outbreak in the initial phase until the national or regional Rapid Response Team (RRT) arrives.
Officials also looked into planning and coordination, surveillance and early warning and response, risk communication, public health measures, and rapid containment operations.
The participants reviewed institutional arrangement for influenza pandemic by examining the roles and responsibilities of the National Steering Committee (NSC), National Executive Committee (NEC), National Incident Command Centre (NICC) and the Incident Operation Centre (IOC).
According to NIPPP 2007, Bhutan has a poultry population of 230,000 in two semi-commercial farms, three government farms, and backyard farms.
The bio security in these farms range from very low to moderate.
Meanwhile, 175 livestock extension centres in the 205 gewogs report unusual mortality in poultry in villages to the four regional livestock development centres.
In 2009, the veterinary laboratory diagnostic capability was limited to rapid tests for avian influenza A virus. The MoA has formulated policies on culling and compensation for farmers should a need arise. Works on segregating piggery farms from poultry farms in government owned farms and some high risk villages has been initiated.
By Pushkar Chhetri
7 February 2010
Supposing a livestock extension officer reported death among wild birds and commercial poultry in Gelephu in Sarpang and the sample from the dead birds tested positive for influenza A (H5). What would the Department of Livestock and other stakeholders do?
This was a scenario assumed by representatives from health and agriculture ministries and officials from other relevant agencies who attended a two-day workshop to test human health response capacity to Avian Influenza in Phuentsholing from January 30 to February 1.
The workshop looked into development of clear-cut policies and strategies, strengthening the capacity of Ministry of Health (MoH) and Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) for prevention and control of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak in the country.
Participants also reviewed the National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan (NIPPP) that was jointly prepared by MoH and MoA in 2005.
Roma Karki, an official from the Department of Public Health, said conducting such exercises was crucial to ensure that the plan would stand the test of a real event. ?The lessons learnt and gaps identified from working through an exercise should be used to revise the plan as well as to identify training needs,?she said.The workshop laid emphasis on preparedness plans at the local, regional and national levels.
Participants recommended that local medical officials should respond to the outbreak in the initial phase until the national or regional Rapid Response Team (RRT) arrives.
Officials also looked into planning and coordination, surveillance and early warning and response, risk communication, public health measures, and rapid containment operations.
The participants reviewed institutional arrangement for influenza pandemic by examining the roles and responsibilities of the National Steering Committee (NSC), National Executive Committee (NEC), National Incident Command Centre (NICC) and the Incident Operation Centre (IOC).
According to NIPPP 2007, Bhutan has a poultry population of 230,000 in two semi-commercial farms, three government farms, and backyard farms.
The bio security in these farms range from very low to moderate.
Meanwhile, 175 livestock extension centres in the 205 gewogs report unusual mortality in poultry in villages to the four regional livestock development centres.
In 2009, the veterinary laboratory diagnostic capability was limited to rapid tests for avian influenza A virus. The MoA has formulated policies on culling and compensation for farmers should a need arise. Works on segregating piggery farms from poultry farms in government owned farms and some high risk villages has been initiated.
By Pushkar Chhetri
