Ramadoss ask states to prepare to deal with Avian influenza outbreak

New Delhi, Feb 6 (UNI) Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss today emphasised the need to keep the state governments prepared and create effective emergency response mechanisms to tackle any avian influenza outbreak.

Addressing a high level meeting to review the preparedness of the country in dealing with any outbreak of Avian Influenza, Dr Ramadoss stressed on proactive measures like preparation of contingency plan, constitutional and training rapid response teams, standard operating procedures, stockpiling of anti-viral drugs and personal protective equipments.

Since the outbreak of Avian Flue in January 2006, surveillance capacity has been considerably strengthened. A strategic plan for pandemic preparedness has been put in place. One BSL-3 laboratory has been commissioned at National Institute of Communicable Diseases, Delhi and two more are being set up at Kolkata and Guwahati. Equipments like ventilators and semi-automatic analysers are being procured for critical care management.

The meeting was attended by Health and Family Welfare Secretary Naresh Dayal, the Director General of Health Services, Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research N C Ganguly and other senior scientists and officials.

UNI