Source: Hueiyen News Service / From agency
Gangtok, January 20 2009:
WEST DISTRICT administration, State animal husbandry department and other line departments have cobbled all their resources together to contain further outbreak in the bird flu hit Ravangla subdivision.
At the same time, culling process in the affected and periphery regions are expected to begin from tomorrow provided that a GoI team with a stock of Temi Flu tablets arrive.
Speaking to Sikkim Express over phone, DC (West) D Anandan said that a Rapid Response Team (RRT) from the Union government along with Tami Flu tablets are reaching the affected area tomorrow.
Tami Flu is an anti-influenza drug that may be able to significantly reduce the severity of influenza, including the H5N1 bird flu strain, provided the patient begins taking it within 48 hours of the onset of flu symptoms.
This drug is only provided by the Central team.
The tablets are to be given to each member of the culling team before they enter the fields to cull the chickens in the affected areas.
Without these tablets, going for culling in affected areas is very dangerous.
The members are supposed to take the tablets for at least 10 days even after the culling operation is complete.
Mr.Anandan informed the administration has identified areas falling within 3 kms radius of the affected parts of Golitar, 14th Mile Kewzing and Ravangla as 'affected zone' while a 10 kms radius area has been identified as 'surveillance zone'.