Avian influenza (H5N1) in Odisha: Health dept in readiness

Bhubaneswar: The Health department has instructed the Director, Medical Education and Training, to take the necessary actions to prevent the general population from getting infected with avian influenza.

Dr Nilakantha Mishra, Public Health Director has written a letter to the Director, Medical Education and Training, to take necessary actions regarding disease surveillance, lab surveillance, and outbreak investigation.

Notifiable H5N1 has been detected recently in the chicken farm of two blocks (Pipilli & Satyabadi) of Puri district by the National Institute of High Security Animal Disease.

“Till date no human cases of H5N1 has been reported in India. However, preventing the general population from getting infection of Avian Influenza is of paramount importance,” said Mishra in the letter.

Necessary action as follows:

One team of SJMCH, Puri comprising of faculty from PSM, Microbiology, Medicine, & Paediatric may be constituted and deployed to the field for outbreak investigation, laboratory surveillance and follow up of disease surveillance in coordination with district team, CDVO, Puri with an immediate effect.

• All Medical & Paramedical personnel need to be sensitized to propagate the message in the community to avoid contact with dead / sick poultry / crows. Health personnels to be sensitized maintain personal hygiene, sanitation and to practices infection control precautions.

The Medical College is hereby requested that isolation and case management facility need to be kept in readiness with equipment like ventilators and other accessories.