ALAPPUZHA: Even though the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) started assessing the current situation on the avian influenza virus following an urgent request from the European Commission (EC), the State, which is in the line for potential threats from avian influenza virus in the future, has not taken any significant steps to entrust the issue to an agency which would do a study on the possible entry routes of the virus into the State.
A statement issued by the EC on November 26 says flu viruses found in the European Union (EU) are similar to the ones that affected poultry in South Korea earlier this year.
“The EFSA will provide EU risk managers with independent scientific advice and assistance on animal health and welfare related to avian influenza and any possible food safety issues. The scientific report will be delivered within a week”, it says.
Perhaps, it will be a great opportunity for the State Government to get EC’s help to for a clear picture on the possible entry routes of the virus so that it could develop an effective counter bird flu mechanism in the State.
Dr A.Jalaludheen, Project Officer, College of Avian Science and Management, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU), and former director of academics and research at the Centre for Advanced Studies in Poultry Science, said in the context it would be easy to get in touch with EFSA if a scientific team would be tasked to study the possible entry routes of the avian influenza virus in Europe and Asia, in association with EFSA.
“Information on national or regional surveillance activities regarding influenza viruses is scarce and scattered over the public domain.
Furthermore, the available information often lacks the necessary details when attempting to assess preparedness and response activities of other countries.
Hence, it’s high time to build up a give-and-take relationship with EFSA for the sake of humanity”, he points out.
According to the “Flurisk” project, funded by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), they plan to assess the capacity for early detection of potentially human pathogenic influenza viruses in animals and birds on a global scale.
Results of the analysis will provide guidance to policy and decision makers at national and international level.
“It’s imperative that the Government develops a cross-border co-operation so that we could forecast the entry route of migratory birds, thereby saving farmers from tragedy.
There is no joint standard procedure in the State for health and veterinary authorities in dealing with the disease. In 2004, the World Health Organisation urged nation states to draw up plans to protect their population from a flu pandemic”, says, C.Rahim, an ornithologist.
