Agartala/Imphal, April 30: Alarmed by the outbreak of swine flu in Europe and the US, the health departments of several northeastern states have sounded a red alert on the disease. Consumption of pork is high among tribals as well as sections of non-tribals in these states.
Reports of the flu spreading to Tripura have prompted the state health department to take preventive action against the disease.
A high level meeting, presided over by the commissioner of the health department, Yashpal Singh, was held this morning in the state secretariat to devise a strategy for dealing with any possible outbreak of the flu in Tripura.
Official sources said senior health department officials, including the director of health service, Dr Satya Debbarma, attended the meeting. A separate meeting will also be held with sub-divisional medical officers.
Debbarma said the fear of a possible attack of swine flu stems from the large number of piggeries that have mushroomed across the state coupled with the high rate of pork consumption by tribals and large sections of non-tribals.
What has become a matter of major concern for the health department is that more than three lakh people belonging to tribal and non-tribal communities are directly connected with the piggery business and sell pork in markets all over the state.
“We have already issued instructions to keep a watch on the mortality rate of pigs. In case the mortality rate is abnormally high, it can be assumed that an outbreak is likely because the disease is caused by pigs,” the director of the health department, said.
He said the health department had adequate stock of medicines for tackling the disease and that the stock had been built while curbing bird flu last year.
He said despite the threat of swine flu, pork can be consumed provided the meat is boiled at a temperature of over 70 degrees Celsius.
Debbarma said the health and animal resource development department would launch an awareness programme across the state from tomorrow to make people conscious of the threat posed by the flu and educate them on its prevention.
Regarding the nature of the disease, the sources said swine flu was a form of cold spread by swines or pigs and its symptoms were fever, cold, throat pain, loss of appetite, giddiness and stomach disorder.
“Those who work in a sty or remain in close touch with pork are vulnerable to swine flu. However, the disease can spread through the air too ,” Debbarma added.
On the other hand, the state health department has decided to procure 20,000 more vaccines for meningococcal meningitis (MCM) for continuing the vaccination programme.
Sources in the health department said 13,000 people in the interior areas have been vaccinated.
Since March 27, a total of 63 persons, including three non-tribals, have fallen to the dreaded MCM in the interior tribal-dominated areas under Chhailengta and Ambassa subdivisions.
In Manipur, swine flu fears have spread with the state veterinary department sounding an alarm after reports of cattle deaths in Imphal West this morning.
However, experts after conducting investigations declared that the death of two cows was caused by black quarter and not by swine flu.
Panic-stricken villagers of Malom in Imphal West informed the veterinary department about the sudden death of two cows in the neighbourhood. Thereafter, the department rushed a medical team to find out the cause of the deaths.
“Our experts have confirmed that the deaths were caused by black quarter and not by swine flu. There is no report of spread of swine flu in Manipur so far and there is no reason to be alarmed,” K. Gopal, state nodal officer (bird flu), told The Telegraph.
The official said black quarter was very common in Manipur.
Following directives from the Centre, the Okram Ibobi Singh government has put the state veterinary department and law enforcing agencies on maximum alert to check the import of live pigs and pork meat from Myanmar.
Th. Jeevan Singh, the director of the veterinary department, yesterday asked the district officials to keep vigil and check illegal imports and movement of livestock, poultry and birds and their products from Myanmar.
The director said a large number of livestock, particularly buffaloes and pigs, were being smuggled into Manipur from Myanmar.
A majority of the people in Manipur are pork eaters and the state has an estimated pig population of about five lakh. “We are on full alert to deal with any eventuality,” Gopal said.
Source: Telegraph India
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Reports of the flu spreading to Tripura have prompted the state health department to take preventive action against the disease.
A high level meeting, presided over by the commissioner of the health department, Yashpal Singh, was held this morning in the state secretariat to devise a strategy for dealing with any possible outbreak of the flu in Tripura.
Official sources said senior health department officials, including the director of health service, Dr Satya Debbarma, attended the meeting. A separate meeting will also be held with sub-divisional medical officers.
Debbarma said the fear of a possible attack of swine flu stems from the large number of piggeries that have mushroomed across the state coupled with the high rate of pork consumption by tribals and large sections of non-tribals.
What has become a matter of major concern for the health department is that more than three lakh people belonging to tribal and non-tribal communities are directly connected with the piggery business and sell pork in markets all over the state.
“We have already issued instructions to keep a watch on the mortality rate of pigs. In case the mortality rate is abnormally high, it can be assumed that an outbreak is likely because the disease is caused by pigs,” the director of the health department, said.
He said the health department had adequate stock of medicines for tackling the disease and that the stock had been built while curbing bird flu last year.
He said despite the threat of swine flu, pork can be consumed provided the meat is boiled at a temperature of over 70 degrees Celsius.
Debbarma said the health and animal resource development department would launch an awareness programme across the state from tomorrow to make people conscious of the threat posed by the flu and educate them on its prevention.
Regarding the nature of the disease, the sources said swine flu was a form of cold spread by swines or pigs and its symptoms were fever, cold, throat pain, loss of appetite, giddiness and stomach disorder.
“Those who work in a sty or remain in close touch with pork are vulnerable to swine flu. However, the disease can spread through the air too ,” Debbarma added.
On the other hand, the state health department has decided to procure 20,000 more vaccines for meningococcal meningitis (MCM) for continuing the vaccination programme.
Sources in the health department said 13,000 people in the interior areas have been vaccinated.
Since March 27, a total of 63 persons, including three non-tribals, have fallen to the dreaded MCM in the interior tribal-dominated areas under Chhailengta and Ambassa subdivisions.
In Manipur, swine flu fears have spread with the state veterinary department sounding an alarm after reports of cattle deaths in Imphal West this morning.
However, experts after conducting investigations declared that the death of two cows was caused by black quarter and not by swine flu.
Panic-stricken villagers of Malom in Imphal West informed the veterinary department about the sudden death of two cows in the neighbourhood. Thereafter, the department rushed a medical team to find out the cause of the deaths.
“Our experts have confirmed that the deaths were caused by black quarter and not by swine flu. There is no report of spread of swine flu in Manipur so far and there is no reason to be alarmed,” K. Gopal, state nodal officer (bird flu), told The Telegraph.
The official said black quarter was very common in Manipur.
Following directives from the Centre, the Okram Ibobi Singh government has put the state veterinary department and law enforcing agencies on maximum alert to check the import of live pigs and pork meat from Myanmar.
Th. Jeevan Singh, the director of the veterinary department, yesterday asked the district officials to keep vigil and check illegal imports and movement of livestock, poultry and birds and their products from Myanmar.
The director said a large number of livestock, particularly buffaloes and pigs, were being smuggled into Manipur from Myanmar.
A majority of the people in Manipur are pork eaters and the state has an estimated pig population of about five lakh. “We are on full alert to deal with any eventuality,” Gopal said.
Source: Telegraph India
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