sharon sanders
Editor-in-Chief & President
Poultry products in Lanka absolutely safe
by Gamini Warushamana
Poultry products in Sri Lanka are 99% safe and all measures have been taken to prevent a bird flu outbreak said the president of the All Ceylon Poultry Farmers' Association Dr. D. D. Wanasinghe.
After a new round of bird flu outbreak was reported in India fears of bird flu spread in the country damaging the industry on many occasions in the past. However, the disease was never found in Sri Lanka. According to market sources this time there is not much of a impact on demand for poultry products in the country.
Dr. Wanasinghe said that the disease has spread in India since 2000 but Sri Lanka was not affected thanks to the natural protection the country enjoys being an island and the strong measures the relevant authorities had taken.
Bird flu can come to Sri Lanka, from migratory birds and imported poultry products and feeds.
The migratory birds are now flying back and therefore the disease cannot be spread by birds. The Department of Livestock and Animal Health (DLAH) and health authorities have taken measures to prevent bird flu coming to the country.
Action has been taken to immediately stop all poultry products imports from countries where the disease is reported. Hence, imports from India were stopped immediately after the disease was found in India recently, Dr. Wanasinghe said.
The Department of Wild Life and DLAH have recognised the resting areas of migrating birds and trained officers have been employed to regularly test birds droppings, feathers and water samples from lakes where they are living under a WHO funded program.
This testing has been carried out continuously for a long time and there is no evidence of bird flu in Sri Lanka so far, he said.
Dr. Wanasinghe, a veterinary surgeon and lecturer of the Veterinary Science Faculty of the Peradeniya University said that veterinary surgeons and veterinary assistants in the country have educated poultry farmers about the disease and introduced precautionary measures.
http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/02/03/fin02.asp
by Gamini Warushamana
Poultry products in Sri Lanka are 99% safe and all measures have been taken to prevent a bird flu outbreak said the president of the All Ceylon Poultry Farmers' Association Dr. D. D. Wanasinghe.
After a new round of bird flu outbreak was reported in India fears of bird flu spread in the country damaging the industry on many occasions in the past. However, the disease was never found in Sri Lanka. According to market sources this time there is not much of a impact on demand for poultry products in the country.
Dr. Wanasinghe said that the disease has spread in India since 2000 but Sri Lanka was not affected thanks to the natural protection the country enjoys being an island and the strong measures the relevant authorities had taken.
Bird flu can come to Sri Lanka, from migratory birds and imported poultry products and feeds.
The migratory birds are now flying back and therefore the disease cannot be spread by birds. The Department of Livestock and Animal Health (DLAH) and health authorities have taken measures to prevent bird flu coming to the country.
Action has been taken to immediately stop all poultry products imports from countries where the disease is reported. Hence, imports from India were stopped immediately after the disease was found in India recently, Dr. Wanasinghe said.
The Department of Wild Life and DLAH have recognised the resting areas of migrating birds and trained officers have been employed to regularly test birds droppings, feathers and water samples from lakes where they are living under a WHO funded program.
This testing has been carried out continuously for a long time and there is no evidence of bird flu in Sri Lanka so far, he said.
Dr. Wanasinghe, a veterinary surgeon and lecturer of the Veterinary Science Faculty of the Peradeniya University said that veterinary surgeons and veterinary assistants in the country have educated poultry farmers about the disease and introduced precautionary measures.
http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/02/03/fin02.asp