Surveillance committees to tackle bird flu
 

by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi

Three surveillance committees were appointed yesterday by the Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva to gear up for any possible threat of the deadly avian influenza known as bird flu notwithstanding that not even a single case has been reported so far in Sri Lanka.

The three committees are a Joint Steering Committee, Joint Technical Committee and Provincial and District Committee.

The role of the National Steering Committee is to oversee the completion and implementation of the integrated national influenza pandemic preparedness plan, a Health Ministry spokesman told the Daily News yesterday.

He said this committee would undertake policy decisions and give directions to the relevant units and officials for monitoring the whole program.

The Joint Steering Committee comprises Director General of Animal Production and Health Department(APHD) as Co-Chair and Director General of Health Services(Co-Chair), Deputy Director General of Health Services, Additional Director General(APHD), Director of the Epidemiology, Director General of the Foreign Ministry, resident representatives of the World Food Program and World Health Organisation(WHO).

Besides, the committee will also include a representative from the Finance Ministry, a representative from the Media Ministry and another from the Tourism Ministry.

The spokesman said Minister de Silva is to forward the Cabinet paper in this regard. It seeks to delegate power of officials to prevent entry of infection, prepare for and mount an early response and also to create a special control unit named "exotic disease control."

Already, the authorities have decided that a license should be obtained from Animal Production and Health Department when importing chicken and chicken eggs.

The import of chicken and exotic birds from countries where this disease was reported have been suspended.

Besides, the Ministry has decided to launch a special medical research program at every sanctuary targeting the migratory birds who can transmit this disease."Since this is the period in which most migratory birds are arriving Sri Lanka, we are paying special attention.Already, steps have been taken to provide training for officials in this regard." spokesman added.

The Ministry will also focus on tourists arriving from affected countries.