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Male, 19th February
2006
AVIAN FLU IN INDIA
The Government of India confirmed last night that avian
influenza is responsible for the death of poultry in the northern part of Maharashtra state in an area adjacent to the state of Gujarat. Nearly 50,000 chickens have died.
This is the first time that H5N1 virus has been detected
in India. The infection in poultry is so far
restricted to few poultry farms.
No human cases have been detected so far. House to house surveys
have already started for early detection of cases.
The GOI in indeed fully geared up. Culling of all chickens
in this infected area has been initiated. Surveillance in poultry farms in
the adjoining areas has been intensified. The culling operations have begun
within 3 km radius. Sixty rapid response teams are involved in these
operations.
The National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) is
the focal point for human health aspects. Their multi-disciplinary team is
already in the field and another team is going in the morning today. NICD
monitoring cell is working round the clock. In addition, teams from
provincial government are also in the affected area. Indigenous production of
oseltamivir has commenced in India and
first supply is likely to be received soon.
WHO Regional Office and WHO-India Country Office are in
continuous touch with the Government of India and has
assured all possible assistance including for strengthening surveillance,
case management, and application of simple public health measures such as
risk communication. Twenty thousand capsules of oseltamivir
were provided to national authorities by WHO a few
months back. If need be, additional supplies shall be made available from WHO
stockpile. WHO Reference Laboratory in Hong Kong
has been alerted to provide confirmatory diagnostic services, if needed.
Note from the WHO
Country Office:
The confirmation of H5N1 avian influenza in poultry in India
is a cause for great concern and demands immediate action. This is the first
reported incidence of this highly pathogenic virus on the Indian
sub-continent. H5N1 is spreading rapidly across the world. If the H5N1 virus changes to allow it to
pass easily from person to person and it go unchecked, this could trigger an
influenza pandemic. All countries must
take measures to protect human health against avian flu, and prepare for a
pandemic.
This latest outbreak in India confirms that no country is
immune to H5N1. Every country is at
risk. Maldives
is one of several countries of South East Asia located in the Central
Asia flyway and although migratory wild birds visit some
southern islands, they do not usually come into contact with local poultry
and people.
Although a recent assessment on the risk of highly
pathogenic avian influenza virus showed low risk for the Maldives, human and
animal health services must be on high alert, sharing information and quickly
reporting any signs of disease in birds or humans that could be due to H5N1
avian influenza.
The single most important public health priority at this
stage is to warn people about the dangers of close contact with sick or dead
birds infected with H5N1. The vast majority of all human cases and deaths
from H5N1 have occurred in previously healthy children and young adults.
Experience in other Asian countries and most recently in Turkey
underscores the fact that immediate, clear public information is critical to
help protect human health. Slaughtering, defeathering
or butchering infected, sick or dead birds can put people at risk. The home
slaughter and consumption of birds which appear to be sick is high-risk
behavior. Ideally, people culling and
disposing of birds should have protective equipment.
WHO will keep informed of further developments.
For further
information, please visit: www.who.org.mv
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