Recurrence of bird flu in West Bengal worrying: Anbumani

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/099200812221831.htm

Recurrence of bird flu in West Bengal worrying: Anbumani

New Delhi (IANS): Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss Monday said the government is concerned about the recurrence of bird flu in West Bengal and asked all state governments to draw up plans to fight the disease.

At a special review meeting attended by officials of the health, home, environment, information and broadcasting and agriculture ministries, Ramadoss said he would write to "all the chief ministers and health ministers to upgrade the preparedness to deal with the disease".

Expressing concern over the recurrence of bird flu in West Bengal, the minister appealed to the state government "to scale up its preparations and efforts to deal with the situation". He advised the state to carry out a "regular drill to deal with the disease, irrespective of the outbreak conditions".

Last week, West Bengal confirmed an outbreak of avian influenza and has so far culled 22,000 poultry in Malda district. In early 2008, the disease had hit 13 districts of the state following which over 200,000 birds were culled.

Health authorities maintain that people in the avian flu-hit areas of the state are not cooperating with the culling teams, as poultry is a source of livelihood in several villages.

Representatives from different ministries of Assam, West Bengal, Meghalaya, Bihar, and Jharkhand attended the meeting.

Ramadoss emphasised the need to increase the awareness campaign about avian flu in order to educate people to adopt safe practices and cooperate in the culling.

He assured all the states of full support and asked them to utilize the situation to create a standing infrastructure to deal with avian influenza in future too.

Apart from West Bengal, at least eight Assam districts were hit by the bird flu virus two weeks ago after hundreds of chicken and ducks died suddenly. More than 400,000 poultry have been culled in Assam so far.

The northeastern state of Tripura was affected in April and May this year, forcing the authorities to cull over 200,000 birds.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Recurrence of bird flu in West Bengal worrying: Anbumani

Source: http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/51955

Ramadoss urges states to be on alert after bird flu outbreak
New Delhi, Mon, 22 Dec 2008 NI Wire

Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss on Monday asked all the states to keep close vigil on fresh bird flu outbreak and asked to broaden their preparations and efforts to deal with any crisis.

Speaking at a special review meeting, the Minister expressed concern over the recurrence of bird flu in Assam and West Bengal, and emphasized a greater need to expand awareness campaign.

On the received reports of non-cooperation from locals in the culling operations, Ramadoss appealed the state administration to spread awareness to educate the people to adopt safe practices and cooperate in the culling process.

He assured all the states of full support from Centre to cope with avian influenza
and also asked them to utilise this situation in developing a standing infrastructure to tackle its occurrence in future.

During the meeting which was attended by representatives of Assam, West Bengal, Meghalaya, Bihar, and Jharkhand, the Minister was also informed the reason behind the delay in culling operation as farmers were protesting for not getting adequate compensation.

Dr. Ramadoss is also likely to ask Chief Ministers and Health Ministers of different states in written to review the preparation of the various agencies pertaining to animal husbandry and rapid response team.

However, since December 16 there was no case of fresh outbreak were reported so far. The latest report from High Security Animal Disease
Laboratory, Bhopal ? where the blood samples of chickens and other birds across the country including West Bengal and Assam had been sent to test ? were found ?negative?.

Despite no fresh cases of avian flu, Tripura and Mizoram- the nearby states of Assam and West Bengal have imposed blanket ban on importing the chickens and other birds from Assam, West Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh. Meanwhile, officials from Orissa have reported to have completed the vaccination
program under which nearby one lakh poultry birds have been vaccinated in eight spotted districts.