Take measures to check bird flu outbreak: Sonia

New Delhi, July 15: UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has been urged to give directions to the government to provide adequate compensation to the poultry farmers in case of bird deaths to prevent the spread of bird flu in the country.

Presenting a copy of his book 'Bird Flu: Countering the terror' here to Ms Gandhi last evening, noted physician Ajit S Puri said.

''In view of the outbreak of avian influenza in the neighbouring countries the government must take effective preventive measures to check it.'' Farmers generally hide deaths of poultry due to the fear of being forced to cull their entire poultry resulting in delayed initial prevention measures leading to chaos and confusion, he pointed out, adding it should be avoided.

Highlighting the global threat of bird flu, Dr Puri also called for providing technical guidance to farmers about various protective measures, especially in sanitation and disinfection of the farms.

He stressed the need for various preventive measures like keeping the birds separate from wild birds, in clean hygienic poultry farms and preferably indoor during an epidemic. Children must be kept away from poultry farms and those working in farms must use protective devices like goggles, aprons and wash hands frequently.

Birds should be closely watched for symptoms of bird flu like lethargy, refusing to eat, nasal discharge, swelling of head, eye lids and their ultimate deaths, he said. Quick reporting of the involved poultry, initiating urgent culling and other measures by trained task force, availability and allocation of adequate funds were crucial to check the deadly disease which caused huge economic loss to farmers of the country last year, he added.

UNI