Health of 91 people monitored, 338 cullers under Tamiflu in Manipu

New Delhi, Aug 6 (UNI) The government is monitoring the health status of 91 people suffering from feveror respiratory infections in Manipur, while 338 cullers (supportive staff) have been put under cover of Tamiflu, following the outbreak of Avian Influenza in East Imphal district of the state.

The situation is being closely monitored. However, at present, there are no suspected human cases of Avian Influenza, an official release said here today.

The population of the infected zone, which is in the radius of upto three km of the household farm in Chingmeirong Village, where the disease was first notified on July 25, is under active surveillance on a daily basis. The State Government has deployed health teams, consisting of 600 health personnel for this purpose who could cover 44,923 houses consisting of 2,34,614 population.

These surveillance teams detected 51 fever/ ARI cases, some of which are follow-ups of earlier cases. One of them had a history of having handled dead orsick birds. About 40 cases of fever/ARI were detected, of which two had handled sick/dead birds, have been detected in the surveillance zone of 3 km to 10 km. These cases are being closely monitored.

Surveillance activity is also continuing with 158 health workers in the 3 to 10 km zone. They have covered 6,317 houses with a population of 35,206 in Ningthoubung, Top Naoriya, Ganga pat, Takyel mapal, Khabeisoi, Moirang Kampu, Kshetrigao, Malom, Tulihal, Kanto, Khurkhul, Maharabi, Pheidinga, Phumlou, Awangleikinthabi, Tingri, Serjam khunao, Loitang khunao.

The health status of the cullers, who culled about 3 lakh birds in the two districts, are being monitored. About 338 cullers (supportive staff) have been examined and they are under cover of Tamiflu.

Meanwhile, four case of fever/ Acute Upper Respiratory Tract infection, who had come in contact with dead or sick birds, are now afebrile. Their clinical samples have been tested at the National Institute of Virology, Pune and the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, Delhi and found negative for Avian Influenza virus by RT-PCR [Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction].

The Central Rapid Response Team of Ministry of the Union Health Ministry, deputed in Imphal, is assisting the State Government.

Arrangements have been made in J N Hospital, Imphal, for isolation and critical care. This is in addition to the critical care facilities available at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal.

Adequate supply of logistics like 15000 capsules of Tamiflu, 1000 N-95 masks and 2000 personal protective gears have been made available to the State Government.

UNI