Odisha says no fear of bird flu or coronavirus in state

Dealing with twin issues of avian influenza or bird flu and vel coronavirus, Odisha government on Thursday said re is thing to panic as ministration has taken equate measures to tackle any threat.

human being has so far eir been infected to avian influenza or vel coronavirus (nCoV), said health and family welfare secretary N B Dhal.

steps have been taken to avoid spre of bird flu in state as per guidelines of both Central government as well as World Health Oraganisation (WHO), he said.

Dhal, however, said two persons came forward and informed government that y returned to Odisha from China via Malaysia.

"re are such nCoV symptoms in se two persons. We have vised m home isolation and keeping vigil on ir health status for 15 days," he said.

health and family welfare secretary through a video conferencing earlier in day informed Centre about situation in state.

"Till date, person in Odisha has been detected with coronavirus. If any such case comes to tice, blood samples will be sent to National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune for a test," he said.

A three-member central team Thursday visited Odisha University of Agriculture and Techlogy poultry farm, epicenter of avian influenza which was confirmed three days ago.

"re has been a bird flu outbreak in OUAT. We have seen measures being taken by state government. Everything is as per standard operation procedure and guidelines of WHO. situation is very much under control and thing to panic over bird flu," said Debashish Bhattacharya, a member of central team.

He said while officials of animal husbandry are engd in culling of birds within one kilometer of OUAT poultry farm and disinfecting area, health officials are undertaking health screening of people within three kilometer from infected area.

"All activities are being carried out as per protocol," Bhattrachrya said.

Odisha's Director of Public Health, Ajit Mohanty, said bird culling operation has almost been completed and officials are engd in disinfection activities.

He said central team will remain in Bhubaneswar for 10 more days to oversee measures being taken by state ministration.

As per guidelines, health screening of local people living within three kilometers need to be done on daily basis. re is provision of such screening of people residing between 3 km to 10 km twice a week.

Dhal, however, said re was such history of human being infected in H5N1 virus from animals in country.

"Still, according to protocol, we are screening health condition of people living in bird flu hit areas," Dhal said.

Stating that only one of 14,000 blood samples so far collected in state tested positive to H5N1 virus, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Secretary R Raghu Pras said, "It has been decided that samples of chickens within 3-10 km rius of OUAT will also be collected and sent to National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal."

Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) will conduct a survey in se areas twice a week, he ded.

Earlier, a report received from High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSL) in Bhopal h confirmed presence of H5N1 virus in poultry farm of OUAT.

excreta samples collected from bird sanctuary in Chilika lake and Bhitarkanika national park were sent to Bhopal laboratory for confirmation of possible bird flu.