Flu not in TN air, say Animal experts

M BHARAT KUMARChennai, Feb 20:

The Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Department has geared itself up to tackle any outbreak of bird flu in Tamilnadu.

Close on the heels of the Maharashtra Government confirming the presence of strains of
avian virus flu in a few chickens in Nadurbar district in the State yesterday, panic gripped all over the country and sale of the birds and eggs dropped fast in several places. SMSs have started doing the rounds asking people to stop eating chicken.

Talking to News Today, a senior doctor of the Tamilnadu Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, dismissed the fear as needless.

'The situation is well under control in the State and check posts have been put up at three places ? Thalavadi, Hosur and Katpadi to check lorries and trucks bringing poultry and eggs into Tamilnadu', he said.

'A red alert has been issued at all poultry farms and hatcheries throughout the State and they have been sanitised and quarantined.

Several hatcheries in the districts have been asked to come up with protective bio-shields', he added.

The doctor said there had been no trace of the H5N1 virus anywhere in the State. 'Moreover, our method of cooking, which involves deep-frying and boiling, will kill the bird flu virus, if at all it exists,' he added. The avian influenza virus is also sensitive to commercial disinfectants and alcohol, he added.

Sanctuaries safe

Similarly samples collected from wild and migratory birds in the various sanctuaries in Tamilnadu showed no signs of H51N- virus, a Forest Department official said. He appealed to bird watchers to tell the department if they sighted any dead bird.

Drastic drop in sales

As TV channels reported the disease, panic gripped people in Chennai.

Said Zakir Hussain, who runs a chicken outlet: 'Sales dropped drastically. People are afraid to eat chicken now. On an average, I sell over 150 kg meat on Sundays. But yesterday, I sold hardly 60 kg'.

Same was the case with several restaurants.

Hoteliers and caterers said the same story. 'The fear is so much. People even avoid eggs,' said the owner of a fairly crowded eating house in the city. Many others whom this reporter spoke to, said they feared the eggs might get spoiled if they do not use them in another day or two.

Reports reaching here this morning said hundreds of trucks carrying poultry and eggs were waiting at Palaiyaru, on the Kerala - Tamilnadu border entry. Talks were on with officials for entry into the State.

No need for tension

The National Egg Co-Ordination Committee and All India Poultry Development Services have issued statements stating that everything is in control and people could continue eating chicken and eggs. They have also appealed to the Centre not to go ahead with culling and vaccination programme until fresh samples are sent for testing and the results are received.

The Tamilnadu Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services has opened a helpline which would function round the clock. The telephone number is 24338714.

Meanwhile, Vishwanath She-gonkar, Secretary of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, told presspersons that the State had not been affected by the avian influenza.

Four checkposts had been set up to screen the vehicles coming from Maharashtra, he said adding that, 'we have barred the entry of any vehicle carrying poultry from Maharashtra.' He also said other vehicles too would be sprayed with disinfectant before letting it into the State.

Personal protective equipment and fogging machines had also been kept ready in all district offices of the Animal Husbandry Department, he said urging poultry farmers to wear masks and protective gears, and also clean their hands with disinfectants.

He also requested the farmers to contact the following numbers in case they come across any symptoms of the avian flu - 24338714, 24339097