State sounds swine flu alert, vigil at border

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, May 22: With setting up of ‘State Influenza Pandemic Committee’ with Chief Secretary as chairman today, Government of Manipur has decided to step up vigil at border areas as well as at airport as pre-emptive measures against possible spread of Swine flu in the State.
According to an official source, the State Influenza Pandemic Committee was set up during a joint meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Rakesh here this evening.
Additional Chief Secretary (Home), DGP, Health Commissioner, Veterinary Commissioner, Forest Commissioner and other related officials attended the meeting held in the office chamber of the Chief Secretary.
‘On top of sounding a high alert, adequate stock Tamiflu tablets and protective gloves to be used by the Rapid Response Team in case of outbreak of the disease have been arranged’, the source said, adding that during the meeting today, it was decided to check all the passengers arriving at the airport and step up vigil to stop import of pigs by Army, Assam Rifles, Police and Customs in border areas.
It may be noted here that Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department has already put a blanket ban on import of pigs from Myanmar.
When contacted, an official of the Health Depart- ment informed that although no symptoms of Swine flu have been detected among pigs in Manipur, the Department has set up a control room with telephone no. 2411668 where people can contact in case of any doubt or fear on outbreak of the disease.
Explaining that the H1N1 virus causing Swine flu can be transmitted from one infected person to another through contact, the official, however, cautioned the people against medication out of fear and without any cause.
For containing the spread of the virus, there is enough medicine in stock with the Department, the official added.
Meanwhile, Union Ministry of Agriculture, Depart- ment of Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Fisheries has sent a written missive to the State Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Depart-ment giving instructions for prompt action in collecting samples in case of suspected symptoms and despatch the same to the Higher Security Animal Disease Laboratory at Bhopal for necessary testing.
Over and above taking up necessary measures to combat spread of the disease, the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry has also set up a control room with telephone no. 2450224.