Apathy & negligence towards flu outbreak not ruled out

Did authorities fail to show urgency in tackling bird flu in Panchkula district? 

Improve disease surveillance

The last few decades have seen outbreaks of avian influenza in several countries. In India the first outbreak of 2005-06 saw a million birds culled. This time the cause of worry is its wider spread with Gujarat, Haryana, HP, Kerala, MP, Rajasthan and UP having confirmed it already while Chhattisgarh, Delhi and Maharashtra await test results. Given that the proximity of commercially reared birds to wild or migratory ones is what spreads bird flu. Except, the great blessing is that bird flu virus strains rarely jump species. A few cases where humans have been infected involve either direct contact with live birds or infected surfaces. Better disease surveillance will serve everybody much better. The Panchkula authorities have been found lagging on this front keeping in view the avian flu outbreak in the Barwala belt. Misinformation has already taken a severe toll on various sectors of the economy due to pandemic. This should not happen again. Well cooked chicken and eggs don’t carry virus. Baseless rumours do hurt the poultry industry and eateries beyond the bird flu itself.

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

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Authorities did not take h5n8 seriously

Although birds in poultry farms in Barwala and Raipur Rani started dying in early December, the district authorities did not take it seriously. Now crows are dying, which proves spread of avian flu. Poultry farms must be inspected periodically to check the spread of bird flu and other diseases. People can be advised not to consume poultry products for some time. Outbreak of pandemic due to virus shows human follies and negligence.

Capt Amar Jeet (retd), Mohali

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Follow standard operating procedure

We are struggling to recover from the coronavirus pandemic and bird flu has knocked at doors creating panic among people. Bird flu has affected seven states. Fighting two viruses simultaneously will be a Herculean task. Centre and state governments must gear up and instruct departments concerned to take all necessary precautions to keep the situation under control. SOPs like proper testing and disposal of dead infected birds must be followed. Poultry products should be examined thoroughly before selling to consumers. Cleanliness is must in poultry farms. Healthy birds should be isolated from infected.

Deepak, Chandigarh

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Disinfect affected areas properly

Amid Covid-19 pandemic, the news of bird flu is scary. Now when, avian flu outbreak has been reported, the authorities concerned have woken up and the culling process is underway. This shows lapses on part of the administration in dealing with a serious matter. To prevent disease transmission, necessary steps like strengthening security at poultry farms, disinfection of affected areas and proper disposal of dead birds should be done on priority.

Anureet Dhami, Zirakpur

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Time lost in flu confirmation

There is no denying the fact that the Animal Husbandry Department failed to send samples dead birds of Barwala and Raipur Rani poultry farms for laboratory testing on time. The authorities down played the bird flu issue. They sent samples to Jalandhar lab, which is not equipped to ascertain the exact cause of death of birds. A central team, which visited infected sites, instructed local officials to send bird samples to National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Bhopal, for the confirmation of the bird flu. Time was lost in confirmation of the avian flu. The state government must take steps to prevent the transmission of this virus to humans.

SC Luthra, Chandigarh

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Educate officials on proper response

The negligence of the Panchkula authorities in tackling the bird flu has definitely come to the fore as it is spreading beyond state. Had the authorities showed urgency the spread of flu might have been curbed efficaciously. Prevention is always better than cure. It’s time to crack a whip on the authorities concerned and educate them regarding the importance of prompt response.

Shobhna Kalra, Panchkula

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A case of dereliction of duty

Truly, it is a case of dereliction of duty on the part of the authorities concerned. Nobody ever tried to ascertain the reason behind deaths of birds in the first week of December. It has become a trend in the country that till any problem does not touch severity, nobody bothers about it. The careless attitude of the authorities must be curbed.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi, Chandigarh

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Keep a check on day-to-day basis

Chickens at poultry farms in Barwala and Raipur Rani in Haryana started dying in early December, but officials concerned didn’t bother to send bird samples for testing to laboratory to ascertain the cause of death. Laxity on part of officials should not be overlooked. Action should be initiated against them. Higher officials of the administration must keep a check on day-to-day basis on the situation to prevent the spread of bird flu and guide the field staff.

MR Bhateja, Nayagaon

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Cannot ignore bird flu cases

The Panchkula administration has come under flak for not taking timely action to prevent the spread of bird flu. As we know that Covid-19 pandemic halted the whole world, so we cannot ignore bird flu cases. Despite knowing that Barwala-Raipur Rani area is the biggest poultry belt in the country, the Panchkula authorities failed to send samples of dead birds for testing to laboratory.

Adish Sood, Amloh

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No one cares about hygiene

Poultry is hardly taken care of in terms of hygiene, pre-diagnosis of disease and feed. Poultry farm owners ignore all these factors for earning money. Had these factors been taken care of, bird flu could have been detected on time and chickens could have been saved. The government should intervene and come up with laws to maintain hygiene and check the spread of disease in poultry farms. A committee should be set up to keep a vigil on poultry farms.

Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali

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Seal infected areas

There is no point of criticising the Panchkula authorities for delay in the confirmation of bird flu cases. The authorities should formulate and implement new policies to prevent the spread of avian flu, which has created a new fear in minds of the people. The infected region should be sealed.

Priyam Aggarwal, Chandigarh

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Make all efforts to check bird flu

The authorities concerned failed to check the avian flu in its infancy due to lackadaisical attitude. The authorities should have immediately constituted a task force, collected samples and sent them for testing for avian flu and alerted everyone. The Panchkula region, where bird flu cases have been confirmed, is Asia’s second largest poultry belt. Chances of spread of bird flu from this region are high. Before this flu turns into an epidemic the authorities must make all efforts to stop its spread.

Simran Sidhu, Chandigarh

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A crippling blow to poultry industry

The Panchkula authorities swung in to action only after the arrival of a team sent by the Centre. Perhaps, earlier they thought that birds could have died due to extreme weather conditions. Reportedly, the central team expressed disappointment over inaction by the authorities. Poultry products sale has taken a hit. This is a crippling blow to this industry. Bird flu is a contagious disease. Action should be taken before it’s too late to contain the spread avian flu. The situation calls for careful inspection and coordination by departments concerned.

Vidya Sagar Garg, Panchkula

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Admn to blame for avian tragedy

The death of more than 4.50 lakh birds at various poultry farms in Panchkula’s Barwala belt due to avian flu is more shocking than surprising. The district administration cannot absolve itself of the onus of this avian tragedy. What is more distressing is that even as more than several lakh birds perished in the Barwala and Raipur Rani areas, considered to be the Asia’s second largest poultry belt housing more than 150 poultry farms, the authorities concerned were totally unaware of the possible reasons that led to unusual deaths of birds. The district administration woke up to the great avian tragedy of this magnitude only when the central team pitched in following the raging reports of unusual deaths of birds due to the deadly flu. The alarming scare triggered by deaths of poultry birds, besides scaring people of the state, hit the industry hard. The district authorities as also owners of poultry farms are to be summarily blamed for the jaw-dropping avian tragedy caused by their sheer negligence. Had the district administration adhered to alerts and advisories, the avian tragedy could have been averted. The ruling dispensation does not seem to have learnt lessons from the past. The administration acted as a lame duck and allowed the situation to go out of control. There is no denying the fact that had the district administration taken the situation with all seriousness several lakhs of birds could have been saved from perishing.

Ramesh K Dhiman, Chandigarh

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Implement poultry rules strictly

Avian flu has affected many states, including Haryana especially Panchkula district. The administration should focus on strictly implementing rules concerning the poultry industry. Already the whole world is facing coronavirus, which has left the economy in tatters. The administration should keep a check on poultry farms in Panchkula district to prevent avian tragedy of such magnitude.

Avinash Goyal, Chandigarh

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Farm owners hid unusual deaths

It is almost evident that poultry farms owners hid unusual deaths of poultry birds from the authorities for commercial benefits. Thereafter, when the matter came into the notice of authorities, they also did not care to take prompt action in the matter. The authorities should have taken action, informed residents about unnatural deaths of poultry birds and sent samples for testing on time. Defaulting farm owners as well as officials concerned should be taken to task.

Balbir Singh Batra, Mohali

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Owners & authorities were negligent

Unnatural death of birds was not reported or noticed by poultry farm owners and the authorities. Both have failed in their obligations and duties. The incident has endangered lives of persons employed in poultry farms and the public. It was also observed that casual testing and reporting without any urgency was another reason for the delay in necessary action by the local authorities. During these trying times everyone should tighten their belts to face the double pandemic situation.

Bharat Bhushan Sharma, Chandigarh

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Biosecurity, infection control needed

Bird flu may become a pandemic. Poultry business is suffering loss with thousands of birds dying every day. Need of the hour is to take precautions. People working at poultry farms should follow biosecurity and infection control practices. They should get a jab of seasonal influenza vaccine every year. People should not dispose of bird carcass with bare hands. Use gloves or an inverted plastic bag for the purpose. Poultry product should be well cooked before consumption.

Charu Malhotra, Mohali

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Required Regular, random testing

Delayed detection of the avian flu points fingers at the irresponsible action of the Panchkula authorities. This spread flu to many other nearby poultry farms in Barwala and Raipur Rani belt leading to panic among consumers of poultry products. There should have been regular and random testing of the birds by the authorities concerned. Coordination with the Forest Department for reporting any unusual mortality of wild birds was also mandated by the government, but no one paid any heed to this. The best way to prevent avian influenza infection is to avoid sources of exposure. The administration should check protocols, which are to be followed by owners of poultry farms. States are supposed to keep a vigil on any unusual mortality amongst birds and report immediately, but the Panchkula administration failed on this count as well. Action plan on avian flu, includes strengthening the biosecurity of poultry farms, disinfection of affected areas, proper disposal of dead birds/carcasses, timely collection and submission of samples for confirmation and further surveillance, intensification of surveillance plan. The government and the authorities have to be alert round-the-clock to control avian flu.

Anil Kumar Yadav, Chandigarh

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Notify symptoms of bird flu

The Panchkula authorities did not show any urgency when birds started dying in Barwala and Raipur Rani areas. The Covid-19 pandemic has taught us many lessons, including preparedness for any infection. This should help fight the avian flu. The Administration should issue strict instructions to residents to call the helpline if any dead bird is found in their surroundings. The government should also notify residents for symptoms of the flu. Sample testing should be quick. The helpline should function 24x7.

Saikrit Gulati, Chandigarh

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QUESTION

Now that the Covid-19 vaccination drive has started and fresh cases of the virus are on the decline, should parents send their children to school as the Chandigarh Administration has allowed resumption of Classes VI to VII in government schools?

Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to [email protected]