Solomon Islands-Campaign against Avain Flu launched

[Treyfish]

<TABLE class=contentpaneopen><TBODY><TR><TD class=contentheading width="100%">Campaign against Avain Flu launched </TD></TR><TR><TD class=createdate vAlign=top colSpan=2>Saturday, 12 July 2008 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=contentpaneopen><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=2>THE Ministry of Agriculture Thursday launched an awareness program to fight against Avian Flu in the country.

Minister of Lands and Survey and Supervising Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Martin Magga launched the program during the Agriculture Day at the National Trade and Agricultural Show.

Mr Magga said Avian Flu or Bird Flu is a disease common among birds, especially wild ducks and geese.

However, he said this disease often spread from wild birds to domestic poultry.

He said Solomon Islands has not recorded a case on Avian Flu but is taking serious preparation.
?The H5N1 virus in Asia has caused more concern than other flu viruses.

?This is a very dangerous disease and while we have not yet had Avian Flu in Solomon Islands, we must be very careful about movement of people, animals and birds coming into the Solomon Islands from the infected countries,? he said. http://solomonstarnews.com/index.php...n=78&Itemid=26
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[Sally Furniss]

Re: Solomon Islands-Campaign against Avain Flu launched

<table class="contentpaneopen"><tbody><tr><td class="contentheading" width="100%">Poultry farmers to learn about bird flu </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" class="createdate" valign="top"> Saturday, 19 July 2008 </td> </tr> </tbody></table> POULTRY farmers will soon learn about what Avian Influenza, also known as bird flu, is.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock will be providing awareness programmes on the disease. Bird flu is a disease of birds that usually attacks wild ducks and geese as well as domestic poultry.

Already, it has affected hundreds of poultry farms mainly in Asia, that resulted in huge losses of income for farmers.The disease is yet to be recorded here.

But the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock officials are taking no chance. Their awareness programmes are part of efforts to combat the disease should it gets here.

The ministry launched its awareness programme on the bird flu during the recent National Trade and Agriculture Show in Honiara.

With the launch, they are now taking the programme right to poultry farmers. This will be done through the media, field visits and on pamphlets. Information would be distributed to farmers on how the disease affects domestic poultry.

Although it?s a disease of the wild, it can also spread to domestic poultry.

In the event that the disease strikes, mass slaughtering will have to take place to avoid it spreading.

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[Commonground]

Re: Solomon Islands-Campaign against Avain Flu launched

Flu hits after the show
THURSDAY, 17 JULY 2008
DUST during the National Trade an Agriculture Show is said to be a contributing factor to the increasing cases of viral infection seen in Honiara?s clinics and hospital.

Dr Hudson Namo of the National Referral Hospital said normally they received 100 or less patients per day.

But since last week the number had gone past 300, he said.

Dr Namo said hospital staff are working tirelessly to ensure each patient got some sort of treatment.

"We are working 24 hours without having lunch since the viral infection started after the Trade Show," he said.

He said another contribution factor to the infection is the change in weather patterns.

But he said a majority of those infected claimed to have got it during the Trade Show.

At the Honiara City Council clinics, they are also recording a large number of patients with the viral infection.

Honiara City Council nursing director Harvest Miabule said the clinics have been packed daily since the Trade Show and often most closed around 6pm.

But Mr Miabule said proper home care is the best cure for the flu.

"Just keep warm, stay in the house to prevent dust plus other means of accruing such illnesses-as common flu is a communicable disease so it is easy to spread," he said.

"Also drink a lot of fluid (water) and eat plenty fruits and vegetables."

Mr Miabule also called on parents to keep their young away from those with the infection.

"Children between one and five years of age are most vulnerable to catching the disease," the nursing director said.

"This is because their immune system is not yet strong like adults.

"Keep our children indoors as much as possible. Also keep them away from children who have already got the virus.

"The common flu should take no more then three to 14 days if treated with home care," he said.

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