PALTRY (POULTRY) POLICIES

Released by: Steve Dcosta

As if the virus had some word of honour to keep and stay off the Indian states.

Email: stevedcosta@gmail.com

Keywords: Tamiflu, Bird flu, Flu symptoms, Avian influenza

Update Date: 6/9/2006 12:44:34 AM

Hits: 271

Descrption:
In a democratic set up like ours where plans and policies take years to be formulated, and still many more years to be put into action, some delays cost us very dearly. They not only affect the individual, but also the industry, and eventually the economy an entire nation in the long run. Undoubtedly, certain matters demand quick thinking and prompt actions, lest it be too late to regret.

The recent outbreak of bird flu pandemic in various states of India is a glaring example of such negligence. Avian influenza or bird flu had been doing the rounds in Southeast Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Oddly, the experts were confident that India would not be hit. This statement was as dependable as the weather forecast for the next 24 hours. As if the virus had some word of honour to keep and stay off the Indian states. Naturally, all presumptions were proven wrong and somewhere in January 2006, the first case of bird flu among chickens was reported. Research Laboratories in Bhopal, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and other states collected samples of the sick chickens to test them for the H5N1 virus. The symptoms in the poultry farm at Navapur in Maharashtra were very much as those of bird flu. The chickens died in abnormally large number all of a sudden, though many farmers reported otherwise. Some of them even hid their birds and evaded any information on their health condition. Pune based Venkateshwara Hatcheries denied the outbreak of bird flu on its farm. So did many other poultry owners.

An intensive research and various tests, however, confirmed the presence of H5N1 virus. Against all resistance, the government finally decided to cull the present stock of birds as a precaution against bird flu spreading further and affecting humans. Lakhs of chickens were culled bringing heavy loss to the poultry industry. After a long struggle of 15-20 days, finally it was declared that now there was no more danger of bird flu. Within a few days, just as quickly as it had hit the panic button, the entire nation relaxed, ignoring the warning a few cautious experts that bird flu had come to stay, and that it had the tendency to re occur.

What worries us most is that from all accounts, the central government was fully equipped to deal with the possibility of an outbreak of avian influenza. Antiviral drugs like Tamiflu had been released in advance and stocked by the government. The systems for surveillance and monitoring were supposed to be functional. Then what went wrong? Why necessary vaccines were not administered in advance when an outbreak was already expected? And why did the farmers hide the cases of this outbreak?

This negligence, fear and delay of action resulted in a massive loss of livestock, a few human lives and a good chunk of national money. A timely action could have saved us a lot of trouble.

What is needed most is awareness amongst poultry owners, an intensive research for effective vaccines, flexible policies for prompt execution and timely decisions taken by the government. Perhaps this will help to instil back some of the confidence in the minds of the anxious poultry owners. Policy-making is no paltry game, and you can’t sacrifice the poultry for it. Give the chickens a second chance. They matter as much to the national economy as you and I do.

For more information's visit:http://www.checkflu.com/