After incidents of bird flu has been reported in Kerala, all necessary precautionary measures have been tightened, here in Coimbatore. As the city lies close to Kerala, the officials have re-assured that all required steps are in place to ensure safety and to stop the disease spread to Coimbatore.
P.B.Balaji, Managing Partner of Chandran Poultry Farm, Puliyampatti, has shared that 'The first case of bird flu in India was reported in Maharashtra in February, 2006. Hence, it is evident that bird flu cannot be associated only to monsoons, it's a viral infection that can affect the birds at any part of the year.
Out of the 35 types of bird flu's, only two types namely H1N2 and H7N7 can affect the humans. Compared to the early years, awareness among the poultry owners regarding the preventive measures to be adhered at their farms to stay away from the disease and to control the spread of the virus has considerably increased.
If any symptoms of bird flu is suspected, we immediately escalate the issue to the concerned officials. The sanitation officials from the Animal Husbandry Department visit the farms and take samples from the farms and sent them to examination centres that are located in Tamil Nadu and if detected with bird flu the same would be sent to Bhopal to determine the exact type of bird flu.
Continued sanitation measures at the farm like spraying disinfectants, maintaining the facility in such a way that there is minimal traffic of biological organisms, providing clean feed and water are to be strictly adhered. Vitamin supplements to the birds will help increase the immune and helps in increasing the resistance towards infections. The staff who deal with the birds are provided with hand gloves and disinfectants to wash their body thoroughly after handling the birds. By practising such prudent strategies, incidence of bird flu can be controlled to a great extent', says Balaji
In an exclusive interview to SimpliCity, Deputy Director of Coimbatore District Health and Welfare Department, Bhanumathi shared the measures taken by the Government to control the spread of bird flu in the district of Coimbatore, “All preventive measures have been taken in the city to control the spread of bird flu. The poultry farm owners have been instructed to inform the animal welfare board officials about the death of any birds in their farms.”
“Disinfectants are being sprayed on the vehicles which are coming from Kerala. In this regard, a meeting was conducted at the Coimbatore collector's office, last week. Officials from Animal Welfare Board, Health Department, Revenue Department and toll gate officials participated in this meeting. District Collector has strictly ordered that any poultry or poultry waste from Kerala should not be allowed to enter into the borders of Tamilnadu.”
“The drivers who bring any poultry or the poultry waste into Tamilnadu will be handed over to the police and will be remanded in prison. Instructions have also been given on the safety measures that need to be followed by the staff when handling the birds in the farms. Workers are advised to wear hand gloves while they are at work in the farms. After completing of the work, the workers should take bath using an antiseptic soap. Birds that died due to the disease should be buried and people have been deployed for this purpose. The team is provided with all safety gears to prevent any infection. Medicines for any infection they encounter is also well-stocked'.
It is evident that Bird flu has been completely been prevented in Coimbatore. And, people are advised to stay away from believing and spreading unwarranted rumours about bird flu. The officials have affirmed that people can consume chicken meat as usual as there are no birds which are infected with Bird flu in the city.