BSF and Customs alerted about Avian Flu cases in Pakistan

New Delhi, Apr 27 (UNI) The Border Security Force (BSF) and Custom authorities in the border areas with Pakistan have been asked to step up vigilance against informal/illegal trade of restricted livestock and its products in view of the outbreak of Avian Influenza in Pakistan, the government informed the Rajya Sabha.

Answering Mr Vijaykumar Rupani's questions, Minister of State for Agriculture Taslimuddin said in his written reply that the authorities have been asked to activate measures to handle and control operations in the event of outbreak of the disease in the country including keeping poultry indoors and prevent intermingling with other species. Information, education and communication campaign has been intensified in the North-Western states of the country bordering Pakistan.

He said there was a clear and focussed national strategy for perparedness, control and containment of the disease and the immediate priority is to minimise public health risk by the flu at source.

He said surveillance was continuing throughout the country and over 1.25 lakh samples had been tested after February 2006, the first outbreak of bird flu in India. The states were provided with ready reckoners by the government and the preparedness of the states was continually assessed and monitored by the government through video conferences, national conferences of Animal Husbandry Secretaries.

Rapid Response Teams have been constituted at the Central and State levels to combat the outbreak of the disease. The Animal Husbandry Department was maintaining strategic reserve of AI vaccines for poultry though vaccination has not been applied in the country.

UNI