Sally Furniss
Well-known member
The Chairman expressed his appreciation for the ongoing bird flu containment and prevention measures taking place. He especially commended on the good job done by DOL and BAFRA officials to rapidly contain the bird flu outbreak. He also acknowledged the important roles played by Ministy of Health and Royal Bhutan Police to rapidly control HPAI outbreak in Samphelling and Phuentsholing geog.
Agenda Item 2: Update of the Bird Flu Control and Prevention Measures
? Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority
? Department of Livestock
Mr. Thuji Tshering, Chief Regulatory and Quarantine Officer, BAFRA made a brief presentation on the update of bird flu control and prevention measures that has been taken up since the confirmed outbreak of the disease. The presentation is attached as Appendix I.
The following issues were discussed and resolved:
- The members were informed that there is report of vehicle disinfection being not at Singye bridge. The members agreed to verify and find out why this not been done as well as the genuineness of this claim.
- ...
Dr. Karma Rinzin, PD, NCAH also made a brief presentation on the bird flu control and
prevention measures that has been taken up since the confirmed outbreak of the disease. He made specific emphasis on the action taken following the second NICC i.e. from 10th March 2010 till date. The presentation is attached as Appendix II.
The issues discussed and resolved following his presentation are as follows.
- Replenishing of Rapid Influenza A test kits. The Head of LSU clarified that the stock has been replenished by OIE/ JSTF Project. He further added that other primers and stocks for RT-PCR has been also supplied by OIE and St. Jude Hospital in USA.
- The need of further validation of test results at the international laboratory was
highlighted. It was agreed that the samples will be simultaneously referred to OIE
Reference Laboratory in the region i.e. HSADL, Bhopal and other international
laboratories.
- The Chairman also advised DG, DOL who is OIE official delegate from Bhutan to
acknowledge OIE/ JSTF Project for their support in building the advance diagnostic capacity in Bhutan.
- The member also submitted that the Hon?ble Chairman of NICC should formally
acknowledge those well wishers and supporters who came forward to assist Bhutan during our fight against HPAI.
Agenda Item 3: Follow-up of FAO Rapid Assessment for the Prevention and Control of
HPAI in Bhutan
The Director General of Department of Livestock made brief presentation on the mission objective; findings and immediate action plan prepared by FAO Disease Control Expert, Dr.
David Hadrill. He informed the members that FAO Disease Control Expert has rated Bhutan?s
response as one of the best in the world (Appendix 3).
The following points were discussed after the presentation.
- The DOL and BAFRA should come up with various areas requiring FAO support and put
to the Ministry for further submission to FAO.
- The Chairman remarked that the four key elements has to be prepared all the time no
matter where the fund comes from.
o Equipment and chemicals
o Compensation fund
o Public awareness
o Capacity building
Agenda Item 4: Update on the bird flu project fund by the Project Coordinator
Dr. Karma Rinzin briefed the members on project fund earmarked for the HPAI containment
activities (Appendix 2). He also presented the expenditure incurred till date by the Incident
Operation Centre, Veterinary Vigilance Team and Border Vigilance Team. The total fund
earmarked for outbreak operation activities is Nu. 1191420/- which is not sufficient to
successfully implement the control activities.
Following issues were discussed and resolved:
There is no fund earmarked for carrying out VVT activities under the project. Some of
-
the important activities at the time of containment programme was over looked in the earlier fund projection. These additional fund requirement for HPAI control and
prevention activities will be re-appropriated from other heads after seeking No Objection
Letter (NOL) from the World Bank.
Since the World bank Counterpart Sandra Rosenhouse is in the country for other WB
-
mission, one meeting with her is proposed to address these issues.
.
Agenda item 5: Downsizing the Incident Operation Centre at Phuentsholing
Dr. Karma informed the members that the bird flu outbreak is now fully subsided and the IOC members and other facilities needs to be downsized. This is also felt necessary to cut down the costs.
The members came up with following decisions:
- The members recommended to immediately minimize the team composition of IOC and RRTs as well as keep only required number of vehicles.
- The remaining IOC members at Phuentsholing will review and revise SOPs and NIPPP based the actual field experience.
- The revision of NIPPP and SOPs should be completed within one month and submitted during the next NICC meeting in the first week of May 2010.
- Director, DOPH emphasis that Tamiflu will be provided to the IOC members in future possible outbreak also. Nevertheless he cautioned the members that its benefit will be maximum if taken within 48 hours of showing the signs of respiratory disease syndrome.The members agreed to communicate this to all the IOC and RRT members.
Agenda item 6: Product movement from the surveillance zone
Dr. J.B. Gurung presented the qualitative risk assessment of commercial farms at Gurungdara and Bursa under Samphelling geog which is situated within the surveillance zone of the outbreak foci.
The members came with following consensus:
- The risk assessment indicates minimum disease threat from these farms at Bursa and
Gurungdara. Based on this risk assessment findings, NICC recommends transport and sale of poultry and poultry products (chicken and table eggs) from these farms to other parts of the country.
- However BAFRA and DOL should put in place certain conditions and regulatory
measures during the time of processing, packing, transportation and receiving of
consignments. The proposal with terms and conditions should be submitted to the Ministry for acquiring the approval from the Cabinet.
http://www.moa.gov.bt/moa/downloads/downloadFiles/MoADownload5gg10934gf.pdf
Agenda Item 2: Update of the Bird Flu Control and Prevention Measures
? Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority
? Department of Livestock
Mr. Thuji Tshering, Chief Regulatory and Quarantine Officer, BAFRA made a brief presentation on the update of bird flu control and prevention measures that has been taken up since the confirmed outbreak of the disease. The presentation is attached as Appendix I.
The following issues were discussed and resolved:
- The members were informed that there is report of vehicle disinfection being not at Singye bridge. The members agreed to verify and find out why this not been done as well as the genuineness of this claim.
- ...
Dr. Karma Rinzin, PD, NCAH also made a brief presentation on the bird flu control and
prevention measures that has been taken up since the confirmed outbreak of the disease. He made specific emphasis on the action taken following the second NICC i.e. from 10th March 2010 till date. The presentation is attached as Appendix II.
The issues discussed and resolved following his presentation are as follows.
- Replenishing of Rapid Influenza A test kits. The Head of LSU clarified that the stock has been replenished by OIE/ JSTF Project. He further added that other primers and stocks for RT-PCR has been also supplied by OIE and St. Jude Hospital in USA.
- The need of further validation of test results at the international laboratory was
highlighted. It was agreed that the samples will be simultaneously referred to OIE
Reference Laboratory in the region i.e. HSADL, Bhopal and other international
laboratories.
- The Chairman also advised DG, DOL who is OIE official delegate from Bhutan to
acknowledge OIE/ JSTF Project for their support in building the advance diagnostic capacity in Bhutan.
- The member also submitted that the Hon?ble Chairman of NICC should formally
acknowledge those well wishers and supporters who came forward to assist Bhutan during our fight against HPAI.
Agenda Item 3: Follow-up of FAO Rapid Assessment for the Prevention and Control of
HPAI in Bhutan
The Director General of Department of Livestock made brief presentation on the mission objective; findings and immediate action plan prepared by FAO Disease Control Expert, Dr.
David Hadrill. He informed the members that FAO Disease Control Expert has rated Bhutan?s
response as one of the best in the world (Appendix 3).
The following points were discussed after the presentation.
- The DOL and BAFRA should come up with various areas requiring FAO support and put
to the Ministry for further submission to FAO.
- The Chairman remarked that the four key elements has to be prepared all the time no
matter where the fund comes from.
o Equipment and chemicals
o Compensation fund
o Public awareness
o Capacity building
Agenda Item 4: Update on the bird flu project fund by the Project Coordinator
Dr. Karma Rinzin briefed the members on project fund earmarked for the HPAI containment
activities (Appendix 2). He also presented the expenditure incurred till date by the Incident
Operation Centre, Veterinary Vigilance Team and Border Vigilance Team. The total fund
earmarked for outbreak operation activities is Nu. 1191420/- which is not sufficient to
successfully implement the control activities.
Following issues were discussed and resolved:
There is no fund earmarked for carrying out VVT activities under the project. Some of
-
the important activities at the time of containment programme was over looked in the earlier fund projection. These additional fund requirement for HPAI control and
prevention activities will be re-appropriated from other heads after seeking No Objection
Letter (NOL) from the World Bank.
Since the World bank Counterpart Sandra Rosenhouse is in the country for other WB
-
mission, one meeting with her is proposed to address these issues.
.
Agenda item 5: Downsizing the Incident Operation Centre at Phuentsholing
Dr. Karma informed the members that the bird flu outbreak is now fully subsided and the IOC members and other facilities needs to be downsized. This is also felt necessary to cut down the costs.
The members came up with following decisions:
- The members recommended to immediately minimize the team composition of IOC and RRTs as well as keep only required number of vehicles.
- The remaining IOC members at Phuentsholing will review and revise SOPs and NIPPP based the actual field experience.
- The revision of NIPPP and SOPs should be completed within one month and submitted during the next NICC meeting in the first week of May 2010.
- Director, DOPH emphasis that Tamiflu will be provided to the IOC members in future possible outbreak also. Nevertheless he cautioned the members that its benefit will be maximum if taken within 48 hours of showing the signs of respiratory disease syndrome.The members agreed to communicate this to all the IOC and RRT members.
Agenda item 6: Product movement from the surveillance zone
Dr. J.B. Gurung presented the qualitative risk assessment of commercial farms at Gurungdara and Bursa under Samphelling geog which is situated within the surveillance zone of the outbreak foci.
The members came with following consensus:
- The risk assessment indicates minimum disease threat from these farms at Bursa and
Gurungdara. Based on this risk assessment findings, NICC recommends transport and sale of poultry and poultry products (chicken and table eggs) from these farms to other parts of the country.
- However BAFRA and DOL should put in place certain conditions and regulatory
measures during the time of processing, packing, transportation and receiving of
consignments. The proposal with terms and conditions should be submitted to the Ministry for acquiring the approval from the Cabinet.
http://www.moa.gov.bt/moa/downloads/downloadFiles/MoADownload5gg10934gf.pdf