Training programme for

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Jan. 25: District authorities have started a training programme for health workers to mop up bird flu affected zones in Chanchal I and Harishchandrapur I block in the northern part of the district. Hundreds of health workers will go from door to door to check the health of the people in 41 mouzas after the culling, said Dr. RR Banik, the Malda CMOH. Local NGOs who were a part of the pulse polio immunization drive will also be engaged for this job. According to the Malda CMOH, these health workers will report any symptoms of avian influenza in humans to district authorities for surveillance. The workers will also advise people about precautionary and preventive measures. Though the progress of culling has been very slow due to villagers’ resistance, it is expected that culling will be complete by Monday. Authorities are trying hard to convince people to hand over their chickens as soon as possible. A special cell has been opened in Chanchal and Malda district hospital besides two isolation wards, in order to quarantine more than 525 workers for observation, including local labourers and ARD officials engaged in the culling operation. The Malda CMOH said trained health workers have been engaged for health check-ups of rapid response teams for culling operation before and after the culling.All personnel including labourers are being administered doses of Temiflu.No human has been reported to be infected by the virus during health check up.