“World Health Organisation (WHO) had issued an alert that Bird Flu could spread to other countries including India after an outbreak of Avian Influenza Virus (H5N1) was first detected in the Republic of Korea in December, 2003.

Preparedness

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India has taken adequate measures to contain the human cases of avian influenza if it was to happen. The measures instituted are :

I have been regularly reviewing the situation. A National Consultation Meeting on Pandemic Preparedness has also been undertaken by me on August 01, 2005 with all the stakeholders to discuss the pandemic preparedness and Response Plan. I have also approved for instituting interventions for pandemic preparedness in a phased manner and I am constantly reviewing the matter.

A joint Monitoring Group set up under the chairmanship of the Director General of Health Services, is reviewing the situation regularly. The Chief Secretary of all States/Union Territories and Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry were requested to keep a close watch on fatality among bird population, especially poultry and appearance of severe respiratory illness in the exposed human population and to inform any such occurrence to Ministry of Health & Family Affairs. Other Ministries like Home, Shipping, External Affairs, Environment and Forests were also alerted.

A contingency plan to manage human cases of Avian Influenza has been prepared and circulated to all States. A model State action plan has also been prepared and discussed with state health secretaries.

The National Institute of Communicable Diseases [NICD], Delhi has been identified as the nodal agency to investigate any suspected cases/outbreak. National Institute of Virology [NIV], Pune has also been identified for laboratory support. Rapid response teams (RRTs) have been constituted and kept in readiness. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has strengthened Influenza surveillance network with 5 other institutions viz (i) AIIMS, (ii) Entero Viral Unit, Kolkata (iii) RMRC, Dibrugarh (iv) King Institute, Chennai and NIV, Pune.

A Task Force under the chairmanship of Secretary (H & FW) was constituted to ensure availability of drugs and vaccines for management of Avian Influenza in the country. This task force decided to procure one-lakh courses of Oseltamivir (Tamiflu). 50,000 courses of Oseltamavir and 10,000 personal protective equipments have already been stockpiled.

NICD has trained state level rapid response teams and held sensitization workshops for Para-military forces. Information, Education & Communication (IEC) strategies have also been finalized.

Response

On February 15, 2006 information was received from the Department of Animal Husbandry about large-scale mortality in poultry from Navapur taluk, Nandurbar District of Maharashtra. Preliminary reports had revealed the possibility of New Castle (Ranikhet) disease. On February 18, 2006 the test reports of some samples from affected poultry were confirmed as positive for H5N1 strain of Avian Influenza.

As a matter of abundant caution and without waiting for confirmation from High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL), Bhopal, the Ministry of Health decided to send the Rapid Response Team (RRT) of NICD to Navapur, Maharashtra on February 16, 2006 itself with all the necessary medicines and equipments. The team is presently surveying the area to identify the people who may have come in contact with the infected birds.

On February 17, the RRT visited the local hospitals and observed that over the last 10 days there was no patient with common flu symptoms. However, subsequently six persons with symptoms of common cold were detected and are under observation. None of these cases have any pneumonia. The teams are in the field and assisting the State health authorities in carrying out active surveillance [house to house search] to identify suspected cases among contacts of infected poultry. In order to make confirmatory tests, the RRT has obtained clinical samples randomly from the bird handlers and sent to NIV, Pune and NICD, Delhi. The samples are being tested as per protocols. Another RRT has been sent to Surat District, Gujarat on February 19, 2006.

The Navapur sub-district hospital has been strengthened. Isolation beds have been created and dedicated staff identified for treating cases. Four ventilators have reached Navapur along with two anesthetists.

On February 19, 2006 Department of Animal Husbandry has started culling of birds as per their contingency plan. The RRT sensitized the cullers on proper of use of personal protective equipments and self care. Health status of cullers is being monitored.

My Ministry has dispatched 11,000 doses of Tamiflu and 3,000 sets of Personal Protective Equipments to Maharashtra and Gujarat besides meeting the immediate requirement of Department of Animal Husbandry and is in constant touch with the state health authorities of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Cabinet Secretary has also been reviewing the situation on regular basis.

Round the clock control room is functioning from Emergency Medical Relief Division, Directorate General of health Services [ Tel.No.23061302; FAX No.23061457] and from National Institute of Communicable Diseases, 22, Sham Nath Marg [Tel.No.23921401; FAX: 23913028].

As on date there is no confirmed case of human Avian Influenza. I would like to assure the house that the situation is being closely monitored and under control.”

The Hindu