State ready to combat bird flu

BY V L Srinivasan

Published on February 22, 2006

HYDERABAD: “We are fully geared up in the event of the outbreak of bird flu in the State. Medicines like Tamiflu will be available in a matter of 24 hours,” Health Department Principal Secretary I V Subba Rao has said.

The Principal Secretary told this Website’s newspaper on Tuesday that the State Government was in constant touch with the Centre, which promised to provide not only funds but also men and material to meet any eventuality.

Virologists and microbiologists of the Health Department are on their toes. Osmania and Gandhi hospitals are also on a high alert to face any eventuality. No cases of avian influenza have been reported so far.

“Though it is too early to ascertain the situation, we are on a high alert. There is no need for panic. The flu can be easily treated, if it is diagnosed early,” said Osmania General Hospital Superintendent Dr V Ashok Kumar.

Normally, a patient gets viral fever, which leads to secondary bacterial infection in a couple of days. If the flu is not diagnosed and treated at the early stage, it may lead to meningitis.

Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy reviewed the situation in the State at a meeting with officials of the Health Department and poultry federations. He asked the officials to procure vaccines to combat bird flu. He also directed the officials to inspect poultry farms in the unorganised sector to prevent the outbreak of avian flu.