Nagaland govt prepares plan to tackle Bird Flu

Kohima, Jan 29 (UNI) The Nagaland government has prepared an action Plan to tackle the menace of bird flu in case it entered the state.

Official sources said here today the Nagaland Veterinary and Animal Husbandry department convened a meeting at the Secretariat yesterday which was chaired by state Chief Secretary Lalhuma, in the presence of officials from other departments.

The department explained the Action Plan to the Chief Secretary, which included training the veterinary doctors outside the state, creation of 700 Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) and random monthly checking of samples of poultry from different parts of the state and sending them to the Regional Research Laboratory at Kolkata.

The department also informed that so far no case had been detected in the state.

Commissioner and Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare department Menukhol John disclosed in the meeting that his department also formed RRTs, who were on standby for any emergency.

He further stated that the department was maintaining daily surveillance on any likely outbreak of the disease.

Stressing on the gravity of the Avian Influenza situation, Mr Lalhuma said the disease could strike at any given time and place and the state machinery, especially the concerned departments, should be on high alert to detect and tackle any outbreak.

He also emphasised on the need of public awareness and directed the concerned departments to launch an effective and concerted awareness campaign with the help of the media.

He also asked the PWD and he Municipal Councils to make an inventory of excavators available in the state and land for burial in case culling became necessary, sources said.

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