The recent outbreak of bird flu in the northeastern states bordering Bangladesh and the subsequent failure of state authorities towards its restraint has further generated fear of a possible mutation virus that could possibly transmitted to humans leading to pandemic.
The bird flu outbreak in Nadilagh village, Bishalgarh sub-division of West Tripura has come as a surprise to state authority who are now blaming neighboring state Bangladesh while the Centre to the bad farm practice. However, it is completely a failure of administration both Central and local with late response to the outbreak.
Moreover taking into consideration the local participation at large in preventing spread of avian influenza virus, the administration too needs to come up with adequate compensation packages. The locals of affected regions are with the fear of huge amount of loss in culling operation and hence needs to be reimbursed for the number of poultry birds to be culled.
As per the latest reports a total of 47 districts out of 64 in Bangladesh have been affected with H5N1 virus and hence the World Health Organisation has asked India to keep tight vigil in those regions bordering Bangladesh and also the possibility of recurrence of avian flu in West Bengal which is so far the deadliest instant in India since the first outbreak in 2006.
Though no human case has been reported so far but experts fear with repeated outbreak within a specified region that there could be a mutation with the highly contagious seasonal influenza leading to a pandemic that could kill millions.
Meanwhile, the Central government has ordered for a five-day culling process in affected districts of Tripura. The state health officials are also checking people of any flu-like symptoms. The movement of poultry too has been restricted in those areas and so the import eggs and poultry from neighboring states and country.
Key facts about bird flu
The highly infectious H5N1 virus, which normally infects bird: chickens, ducks, geese, also known as avian influenza and though rarely transmitted to humans but a new form of mutation would make way for human to human transmission.
H5N1 virus spread with infected flocks from one region to another and kills poultry on a large scale. Migratory and wild birds make the deadly virus move steadily closer and hence it is difficult to completely eliminate the diseases.
Humans can get infected by the H5N1 virus on contact with contaminated surface or infected birds.
Symptoms in humans
Fever, headache, cough, muscle pain, eye infections, pneumonia, and severe respiratory diseases such as acute respiratory distress.
Prevention
• Avoid farms with infected poultry • Avoid contact with contaminated surface or animal secretions • Cook meat and other poultry products thoroughly • Observe proper hygiene
Treatment
Tamiflu is a medicine to treat flu by attacking the influenza virus and preventing it from spreading inside the body.
Information resources
http://www.fao.org/avianflu/en/qanda.html
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/
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Comments:
G. K. Pandey
May 3, 2008 at 12:00 AM
cybersupam
April 28, 2008 at 12:00 AMWhy only culling is the way to overcome the problem? It means to ignore all the local people who have been residing in these localities for a long time? Does government cannot take any other alternative steps other than this? In delay of action it can take to a serious record in the history of Tripura.
S Sengupta
April 28, 2008 at 12:00 AMYour reporter is either naive or ignorant. The WHO itself says that containing avian flu is so difficult because it is intimately linked to the survival of thousands of the poorest rural people. What do you prescribe - culling by force? Then people have to be culled. The process of educating and long-term livelihood support is not as easy at it seems.
Why don't all those good homeopaths in Calcutta try some of the remedies outlined the books for influenza. It is worth a try and I am very hopeful.