H5N1: Minister urges people to take precautions

Health Minister Veena George has cautioned that adequate precautions be taken so that avian flu, which has been reported in some parts of Alappuzha and Kottayam districts, is not transmitted to humans.

The State-level rapid response team which met here on Tuesday to assess the situation said though H5N1 had never been reported in humans in the State, adequate precautions were needed to protect people from becoming affected. The department had already issued the Standard Operating Procedures as well as technical guidelines as far as avian influenza is concerned.

The State already has an army of trained One Health community health volunteers and the volunteers in Kottayam and Alappuzha will take the lead in keeping a watch in the field and reporting on any unusual circumstances that may develop as well as creating social awareness on the precautions that people need to maintain.

District-level control rooms have been set up to coordinate field-level activities. Medicines, PPE kits and other protective gear will be stocked in districts.

The department will be conducting careful fever surveillance in the areas where H5N1 has been reported and those with fever, cough , breathlessness and myalgia will be observed closely.

H5N1 can affect hens, ducks, turkey and all fowls and while the infection has not been reported in humans in the State, people who work closely with birds should take all precautions to protect themselves.

Apart from using protective gear and gloves at work, frequent hand-washing should be encouraged. Those developing fever should immediately get in touch with the health workers.

The public will be directed to report any unusual bird deaths or deaths of any mammals to the Animal Husbandry department. Till now, H5N1 has not been reported in mammalian species in Kerala. Dead birds should not be handled. Meat and eggs may be consumed well-cooked.

The department has alerted that farm workers who handle poultry meat or bird droppings manure are at high risk of contracting H5N1 and that such people should don proper masks and gloves while at work.