December 31, 2007

India braces for bird flu outbreak, drafts action plan

India, plagued with two bird flu outbreaks in the last two years, has drafted an action plan to combat bird flu once it strikes.

Inclusive of the plan is the shutting down of schools and markets to curtail the spread of the virus. The public would be further discouraged from gathering in large numbers.

Quarantines will also be imposed on individual and relatives showing symptoms of the flu.

Presently, around 70,000 veterinarians in the country received training on how to handle poultry during outbreaks.

Moreover, India has stepped up biosecurity in Jalandhar, Kolkata, Bangalore, Pune and the North-East, to test animal samples for the bird flu virus.