Centre provides Sikkim govt ventilators to contain spread of birdflu

New Delhi, Jan 28 : The Centre has provided technical experts, adequate medicines and ventitalors to the Sikkim Government to help it contain the spread of bird flu to humans in the Himalayan state.

The central rapid response team from Health ministry is assisting the local health authorities since the outbreak of the highly infectious disease in poultry was notified on January 19, in the Hospital Road locality of Ravongla Municipality in South Sikkim District. The situation is being monitored on a daily basis and daily reports are received from the Control Room established in Ravongla.

Though as of now there is no suspect human case of avian influenza, one hundred and thirty Animal health workers involved in culling operations are on chemoprophylaxis. Five cases of URI with fever has been identified in 0 to 3 Km area but had no exposure history, while in 3-10 km area 65 cases of fever with URI have been detected but none of them has any history of exposure to infected poultry.

In the identified health facility at PHC Ravongla, eight cases were identified with URI and fever but no exposure history was found.

Isolation facilities have been set up at PHC Ravongla. Critical care treatment facility has been strengthened in STNM Hospital, Gangtok.

Two ventilators have been supplied by the Health Ministry to strengthen this centre. There is adequate stock of Oseltamivir and PPE with the State.

Active house-to-house human surveillance is continuing. The culling operation is already over and so far 4129 birds have been culled. IEC material for print and visual media in Nepali language has been provided to the State Government.