|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 8 February 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Lanka takes preventive measures as disease scares Asia by Shanika Sriyananda While the World Health Organisation (WHO) is urging all Asian countries to take swift measures to contain the spread of the deadly bird flu, Sri Lankan health and livestock authorities confirmed that the country is free of the Avian Influenza H5N1 (AIH5N1) virus. But the health authorities have been alerted on preventive measures and easy identification of the flu. AIH5N1, commonly known as bird or avian flu, coming close on the heels of the SARS catastrophe, has spread across Asia, killing 16 people in Vietnam and Thailand, destroying the livelihood of many in several Far Eastern countries and making chicken a 'boogie' food for 2004. Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Pakistan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam have already been identified as having the H5N1 strain. The WHO has warned that no Asian country can consider itself immune to the flu. Dr Nihal Abeysinghe, Director Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health told the Sunday Observer that alert letters have been circulated among public health authorities in every district. "The Weekly Epidemiological Report, which contains the latest information about the virus, has been sent to all State-run health institutions and to the 13 major private hospitals in the Colombo district", he said. Discussions with officials of the Animal Husbandry and Health Department of the Ministry of Agriculture was held last week. "We decided to ban chicken imports from Asian countries and also discussed speedy action that should be taken if the virus is detected in poultry farms", he said. "Several plans are on the cards to educate medical staff about avian influenza and a symposium organised by the Sri Lanka Medical Council will be held on February 21", he said. "The chances of Sri Lankans getting the virus are very low. Most avian flu victims had direct contact with chickens", he confirmed. Dr Abeysinghe said that as the country lacks the testing facilities, they will follow WHO guidelines and get laboratory facilities in other countries. According to Dr Praba Palihawadana, Consultant Epidemiologist, avian flu is transmitted from birds to human and is frequently fatal. But it is not known to be transmitted from human to human. However, she said that vigilance is being maintained to detect any incidence of avian flu or its transmission to humans. The first case of human infection of AIH5N1 was reported from Hong Kong in 1997. Eighteen persons were infected with the virus with six fatalities. The latest outbreak, which has infected millions of poultry in 10 Asian countries, was first reported in South Korea on December 15, 2003 and subsequently spread to nine other countries. Officials of the Food and Agriculture Organisation in the affected countries have stated that mass slaughter of infected birds is the most effective way to stamp out the virus and prevent a human flu pandemic. According to FAO sources, over 25 million birds have been killed so far. Zoological gardens authorities in affected countries have also taken steps to disinfect all animal cages to prevent the spread of the virus. Health authorities in these countries have also warned the public to be aware of wild birds as the flu can be easily spread through migratory birds. Brigadier H.A.N.T. Perera, Director National Zoological Gardens, Dehiwala said that there was no threat to the zoo from migratory birds. "The caged birds do not have any contact with migratory birds", he said. The zoo is home to nearly 1,000 birds. "There are over 110 bird varieties in cages and birds from Asian countries are not visiting the zoo", he said. According to him, migratory birds (most of them are now residents in Sri Lanka) come to the zoo for lunch and go back to their usual haunts in Bellanwila-Attidiya, Beira Lake and Kaduwela. They come to the pond area in the zoo for lunch, which is given by the zoo, and do not have any contact with birds in cages", he added. However, zoo authorities have decided not to accept birds that have fallen ill or have met with accidents, for medical treatment, till the avian influenza outbreak is eradicated. "Normally, sick birds or those who meet with accidents are brought here for medical treatment. "As this practice runs the risk of spreading the virus, we have stopped treating outside birds", he said adding that the zoo workers have been educated on identifying the virus. Zoo authorities have already started introducing substitutes for reptiles and leopards, which depended on chicken. "Feeding chicken to these animals has been temporarily stopped", Brigadier Perera said. Extensive studies in Hong Kong have revealed that the virus can be killed by adequate heat and good hygienic practices during the handling of poultry products. The Ministry of Health will set guidelines to counter any possible attack of the bird flu, but assured that no bird flu case has been detected so far. However, the authorities, warning that the virus could spread by air travel, have, as a precautionary measure, imposed a ban on imports of live poultry, poultry meat products, egg products and other byproducts from countries which had reported bird flu, to safeguard the local poultry industry. A Ministerial Committee headed by Director General of Health Services Dr Athula Kahandaliyange has been appointed to finalise guidelines based on the experience of countries which are now battling to prevent the spread of the virus. The committee will call for contributions from local and foreign experts as well as the WHO. A special quarantine desk has been established at the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake. All passengers arriving at the airport with a history of visiting poultry farms or from infected countries have to report to this special desk. According to the All Island Poultry Association, the virus would pass through bird excretion into contaminated water, droplets from the infected bird's nose and other climatic conditions in poultry. The Association said there is no bird flu threat in Sri Lanka and assured the safety of poultry products consumed in the country.
|
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
