By Dilanthi Jayamanne
The Health Ministry would continue with its quarantine programme at the Bingiriya and Chilaw hospitals as the virus that killed the fowls in Bingiriya were closely associated with the bird flu virus -H5N2. The spokesman for the Health Ministry, W. M. D. Wanninayake when contacted said yesterday that the Ministry took the decision as there was the possibility of the H5N2 altering as the deadly H5N1 which affects animals and humans.
Although the disease stricken birds as well as the rest of the birds in the poultry farm had been destroyed the Ministry and the Epidemiologists had instructed hospitals to be on stand-by.
Wanninayake said that hospitals in Chilaw and Bingiriya had been instructed on steps to be taken if the need arises. They had been provided with the necessary apparatus to protect themselves with face masks and protective attire and drugs.
The Animal Production and Health quarantined the Bingiriya farm area destroying over 5,000 chickens and preventing the sale of eggs from the farm and the disposal of the farm garbage. Despite the reassurance given by the Director General of Animal Production and Health, W.K.de Silva that there was no threat of the bird flu virus the Ministry of Livestock and Rural Community Development has taken steps to inspect all farms within a three kilometer radius of the farm in which the virus was identified.
However the Secretary to the Livestock Ministry K.M.T. Kaadaragama said the identification of the virus which killed the chickens at a farm in Bingiriya, would not affect the poultry industry.
People were advised to consume suitably cooked chicken to minimise the threat.
Blood samples would be obtained from all animals at these farms and tested.
Meanwhile the President of the Graduate Association of Professionals Supplementary to Medicine, Ravi Kumudesh said that there should be a systematic method adopted to address outbreaks. "We are already faced with the dengue threat and have not been able to control the situation. An outbreak of bird flu would be devastating if steps are not taken to come up with a systematic policy and establish a proper authority to carry out investigations and taken the message taken to the people," he said.
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