Evenas no case of avian influenza, or bird flu, was reported in the state so far,the Punjab Government has sounded an alert and pulled all stops to keep Punjabsafe from the possible effect of outbreak in its neighbouring states.
TheCentre had already confirmed that bird flu cases were reported across 12epicentres in at least four states, including neighbouring Himachal Pradesh,besides 4 lakh chicken deaths reported in Haryana’s Panchkula district.
Confirmingthat no such case or bird death was reported in any part of the state tilldate, the Chief Secretary Ms Vini Mahajan has ordered stepping up of sampling,testing, and surveillance of the suspected bird flu cases.
Shesaid that all requisite logistics and funds were available to fight thesituation in the state.
Mahajan was reviewing the situation and preparedness of the state to preventthe spread in the wake of the outbreak in other states, especially theneighbouring Himachal Pradesh, here on Thursday.
Chairinga meeting of the heads of ten concerned departments involved in the preventionand cure of such cases, the Chief Secretary asked the officers to remain onhigh alert and maintain a close vigil to detect any unusual bird death in thestate.
Mahajan said the state government was fully equipped and prepared to tackle anysituation arising out of the avian influenza outbreak in the country and allefforts were being made to keep the state safe and secure.
Sheissued strict instructions to all the concerned department heads to take allthe precautionary measures to prevent the spread of bird flu in the state.
Mahajan also directed the Animal Husbandry department to withdraw the Covidtesting from NRDDL in Jalandhar and fully utilise the facilities availablethere for testing of bird samples. “Results of suspected bird flu tests shouldbe made available without any delay,” instructed the Chief Secretary.
Duringthe meeting, she asked all the concerned departments to work in coordination totackle crisis situation, if any, arises in the state.
ThePolice and Rural Development and Panchayats departments have been asked to keepa close vigil in their respective jurisdictions. “If any mass mortality ofpoultry or other birds is found, it should be immediately reported to theDeputy Director of Animal Husbandry department in the concerned district,”directed the Chief Secretary, while advising the department heads to aware thepeople against the rumours.
ACSAnimal Husbandry VK Janjua informed the Chief Secretary that NRDDL in Jalandharhas a capacity of testing 1200 samples daily. He said that NRDDL lab has amandate to test samples of 5 North Indian states and 3 UTs. He also briefed that till date, four samplesof ducks from Tarn Taran have been received in the lab. Earlier, Haryana hadsent 4 samples but there was no proper outcome of the results following whichtheir teams collected 57 more samples from Haryana and 2 samples of birds havebeen received from Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh. The results of all these testswould be made available by tomorrow evening. He confirmed that only 2 samplesof birds sent by Himachal Pradesh have tested positive till date.
Thesenior officers from Health and Family Welfare, Rural Development, Water Supplyand Sanitation, Revenue and Rehabilitation, Forests and Wildlife, Police,Director CPDO, Chandigarh and Vice Chancellor of GADVASU, attended the meeting.