Imphal, July 26: Contributing its mite in the ongoing effort, United People's Front (UPF) has begun its campaign to contain further spread of the dreaded Avian Influenza in the State from today.

The campaign which is to cover the entire State began from Imphal East district today.

Apart from spreading the message cautioning the people against consumption of poultry products and appealing to the farmers against concealment or diversion their poultry products to other parts of the State, volunteers of different units of the Front have also been alerted to monitor transportation of poultry products.

Addressing a press conference at the office of the Front here in connection with the campaign this afternoon, UPF president Th Mangi urged the poultry farmers not to think of their personal gain or loss and extend their co-operation in the ongoing efforts of preventing further spread of Avian Influenza.

Mangi, however, has some reservations against measures being taken up by the State Government in this regard.

Charging the Government with delay in taking up preventive measures instead of awaiting for the confirmation of the report of the outbreak of the disease, UPF president maintained that the amount of the compensation announced by the Government to be given to the poultry farmers is very low.

Apart from affecting a large number of small time poultry farmers, such small compensation would only assist in further spread of the disease, he observed.

RIMS discusses bird flu: In the wake of outbreak of bird flu in some parts of Imphal the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) has galvanised its manpower resources with a flurry of activity taking place.

According to a release of RIMS' Media Adviser a meeting of heads of departments was held today in the office chamber of the Director Prof L Fimate after which a committee was formed to chalk out appropriate strategy.

The panel headed by Medical Superintendent Prof Y Mohen soon held another meeting to recommend various steps including acquisition of masks, kits, etc from the state government, it said.

An awareness programme will be launched among the staff of RIMS in addition to stationing paramedics in the Isolation ward round the clock.

The Isolation ward with 12 beds are being kept ready for patients suffering from suspected bird flu for which a team of specialists would be engaged for treatment of the patients.

This is despite the fact that the professors have to attend classes, perform operations and treat other patients in the Out Patient Department.

Apart from the awareness programme for the state a seminar is being arranged wherein subject experts will speak on various aspects of the bird flu.