Gogoi reviews Assam’s readiness to counter swine flu

ASSAM: Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Wednesday reviewed the state���s preparedness in the wake of outbreak of swine flu in Mexico.

The high level meeting was attended by senior officials of animal husbandry and veterinary, health, revenue and disaster management departments.

Mr Gogoi directed the officials to take all-out steps to prevent any outbreak of the virus. He has instructed officials to circulate leaflets and place advertisements in the media to create awareness among the people, especially labourers working in pig farms and those rearing pigs in their own backyard.

The officials apprised the chief minister about the slew of initiatives taken by the concerned departments to create awareness among the people and to provide masks to labourers working in pig breeding farms.

Animal husbandry and veterinary department said they have issued a directive to managers of pig breeding farms to monitor the health of the animals in their care and report if any symptoms of conjunctivitis, coughing and severe bronchopneumonia are detected among the labourers.

Officials of the health department informed the chief minister that the union ministry of health and family welfare has assured support in terms of guidance, experts, material logistics and laboratory tests.

The health officials said there was nothing to worry about since the virus has not affected India or its neighbouring countries. They said there was enough stock of vaccines in case of outbreak of H1N1 swine flu.