New Delhi, 1 February 2008

Bird Flu Resurfaces

NEED FOR ALERTNESS & AWARENESS

By Radhakrishna Rao

India is one of the fifteen countries around the globe affected by the bird flu or avian influenza. The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is concerned. There could be a distinct possibility of the lethally infectious H5NI bird flu virus mutating into a more dangerous form. It could spread rapidly among humans. The FAO has called for close monitoring and strong control efforts to stamp out the menace of aviation flu before it’s too late.

Recall that during 2006 the bird flu played havoc in parts of South-East Asia and certain pockets in India. It is now knocking at the doors of the booming metropolis of Kolkatta, West Bengal. With as many as 13 of the 19 districts of the State reeling under the avian flu there is fear that it could affect other States if timely and effective steps are not taken.   

Describing the current spread of avian influenza, which sneaked in from neighbouring Bangladesh, as “grave and worrisome”, Union Health Minister Dr. Ramdoss assured that “we have stepped up surveillance and asked the Border Security Force to seal the border with Bangladesh and ensure that no illegal poultry trade takes place.” At the same time, he wanted Dhaka to be more transparent in reporting the magnitude of the avian flu haunting the country.

According to FAO sources, the H5 NI bird flu virus “has not become more contagious to humans, but has managed to persist in parts of Asia, Africa and probably Europe. It could still trigger a human influenza pandemic.” However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated that of the 353 human cases of avian flue in 14 countries since 2003, 221 people have died of the epidemic. In fact, “this season has given us some stark reminder that the threat of an influenza pandemic has by means diminished,” says its Director General Dr. Margaret Chan.

With reference to the Indian situation, FAO’s Chief Veterinary Officer Joseph Domenech is quoted to have said:  “India is struggling to keep the worst-ever avian influenza outbreak in West Bengal under control”. He insists that “surveillance and immediate control intervention, bio security, proper vaccination, culling and strengthening of veterinary services are key elements of a successful H5 NI aviation influenza control campaign”.

What have the West Bengal authorities done so far? In Kolkatta, the city corporation authorities had formed eight teams of experts to “maintain a strict vigil to keep the metropolis insulated from bird flu, which already reached adjoining Howrah and Hooghly districts” according to the State’s Animal Resources Development Secretary Dilip Chakraborty. Till last week over 1.3-million birds in the State had so far been culled, even though the culling operations in various parts of the State had been hampered by stiff public resistance and unseasonal rains.

In the country’s Capital, there is fear as hundreds of chicken have died in neighbouring Haryana. So far, authorities have made it clear that New Delhi is free from the threat of avian flu. But in the southern State of Kerala, which gets a large part of its poultry products from neighbouring States, a bird flu alert has been sounded.

Here it is important to make a note of a study in a publication brought out by the British Ornithologists Union last year. It reads: “Although it remains possible that a migratory bird can spread the virus H5NI and contaminate the poultry, evidence overwhelmingly supports the hypothesis that human movements of domestic poultry have been the main agent of global dispersal of the virus to date”.

Importantly, because the viral strain causing the avian flu spreads with stunning rapidity, only immediate and large scale culling of domesticated birds is considered the best preventive measure. As it is, medical researchers are concerned that in the long run H5NI virus could acquire “genetic strength” to facilitate its spread from humans to humans. Bird flu causes symptoms similar to human flu, such as high fever, cough, sore throat, muscular pain, conjunctivitis and pneumonia. Since 1993 the flu has taken many lives across the world.

A disquieting feature of bird flu is that it is difficult to provide full protection against it through vaccination. This is so because no one is certain as to what shape the virus would assume after mutation. “Viral disease such as avian influenza does not recognize boundaries. The development of an indigenous vaccine however, could go a long way towards tackling its threat effectively” say sources at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

Apparently, it has been seen that the H5N1 virus flourishes and causes fatalities in areas where humans are in close touch with domesticated birds, such as chickens and fowls. At the same time, the FAO has made it amply clear that properly cooked poultry and eggs are safe to consume. However, as a precautionary measure, partially cooked poultry and raw eggs need to be avoided. For eggs can carry H5NI virus both on the outside and the inside.

“People need to be informed about the importance of basic hygiene, notably washing hands after touching poultry and disinfecting boots or shoes before entering or leaving a poultry farm” say FAO officials. However, there is always concern that mass culling of the birds could put people at risk of acquiring the virus.

India happens to be the world’s largest poultry producer. And, though it has been on the alert viz the virus entering the country from other parts of Asia, the sheer quantum of domestic consumption and exports could encourage laxity. Add to this the fear that an epidemic in the poultry industry could impact the economy as it provides both direct and indirect employment to a large chunk of the population.

While the above could be excuses for any negligence, the authorities must remember at least the basics as suggested by the WHO: As only a small percentage of the population is actually aware of the dangers of bird flu and its fall out there is a need to intensify public awareness through media channels. Is anyone listening? ---INFA

 (Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)