Rajya Sabha
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has made a contingency plan to tackle any emergency arising out of a possible outbreak of Avian Influenza in the country. Following are the salient points of the strategy:-
· Surveillance of the local community
· Multi-disciplinary rapid response teams to be set up by NICD as well as State Govts. for collection of samples as well as monitoring health status of “at-risk’ cases.
· Clinical management protocols of suspected/confirmed cases
· Laboratory preparedness for quick testing of samples
· Public health measures including all relevant guidelines
· Monitoring health status of cullers
· Dos and Don’ts and FAQs
· Logistic and supplies
- Stockpiling of Oseltamivir for treatment and chemoprophylaxis
- Personal Protective Equipment
· Monitoring
The contingency plan of the Health Ministry would deal with two situations:
a. Detection of avian flu in birds.
b. Detection of avian flu in humans.
In both situations, the Rapid Response Teams from NICD would get mobilised. In case of avian flu in a bird, the action would be confined to surveillance of the local community and monitoring the health parameters of the cullers and the supporting staff as well as the workers in the farm etc. However, if there is a human case of avian flu then all clinical management protocols would be operationalised and the patient would be isolated in an appropriately equipped hospital.
The contingency plan requires considerable support from the State Governments especially, in terms of:
Surveillance of the affected community Identification of State Rapid Response Teams Clinical Management in identified hospitals having isolation facilities Equipping the identified hospitals for critical care management Initiating public health measures including disposal of dead birds/culled birds as per guidelines. IEC Campaign. SR/RS