Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

State intensifies bird flu surveillance

T. Ramavarman

As per the directive of the Union Government

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Animal Husbandry Department (AHD) has intensified surveillance operations for bird flu in the wake of stray avian flu reports from some countries abroad.

AHD director R. Vijayakumar told The Hindu here that the State Government had not yet received any official communication from the Union Government or from other countries on the outbreak of avian flu anywhere in the world. "All that we have had are some media reports in this regard," he said.

However, the State was taking precautions as per the directive of the Union Government. Even though the country had been declared `bird flu-free,' the AHD had stepped up vigil as the bird flu reports from abroad had come during the annual visit of migratory birds to India. The migratory season begins in September in the country and the return migration continues till March and April.

Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) were in place in all the districts to meet any eventuality. Uniforms and materials were also ready for them. Trainings had been given to various sections such as veterinarians and livestock inspectors who would be involved in containment measures to be taken in case of an outbreak of the disease. A contingency plan had also been drawn up, Dr. Vijayakumar said.

These measures were being undertaken with the financial assistance sanctioned to the State when bird flu was reported from Maharashtra early last year, he said.

Replying to questions, he said samples of bird droppings and other related items were being monitored on a regular basis in the major reservoirs in the State. Vigil was being maintained to detect incidents of unusual death of birds in the State.

"So far, we have not received any such reports from the State," Dr. Vijayakumar said.

P.O. Nameer, ornithologist, Kerala Agricultural University, who is the State-level coordinator of the Avian Flu Monitoring Project being jointly implemented by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, said there had not been any reports of unusual death of birds from the State.

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