Government monitoring Avian influenza situation

New Delhi, Aug 1: The centre is keeping a close watch on the avian influenza situation in Manipur, providing adequate supply of tamiflu to the state and monitoring health status of people having fever and respiratory infection who had handled birds recently since the outbreak of the disease in the state.

However, there has been no suspected human cases of Avian Influenza till now, an official release said here today.

The Central Rapid Response Team of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare deputed to Imphal is in the field. The Ministry has made adequate supply of logistics like Tamiflu, N-95 masks and personal protective gears available to the State Government. As of now, 171 cullers are under the cover of Tamiflu. Their health status is being monitored.

The medical teams consisting of 680 health personnel in total have conducted house-to-house active surveillance on July 30. They covered 45,032 houses in the Imphal Municipality area, Luwangsangbam, Koirengei, Lamlongei, Ahalup, Matai, Kontha area, Achanbigei, Heingang, Laipham Siphai, Paomei Colony, Sangakpam, Khurai and Kairang area.

Out of the 45,032 houses surveyed, 935 were having backyard poultry. A total of 2,35,161 persons were covered, 163 Fever/ Acute upper respiratory Tract infection cases were found and 4 people had handled either dead or sick bird. These cases are being monitored.

Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries notified an outbreak of avian influenza in Chingmeirong Village in East Imphal District of Manipur on July 25.

The isolation ward in J N Hospital, Imphal has been kept ready to receive patients. Two ventilators have been installed to provide critical care. This is in addition to the critical care facilities available at Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal.

UNI