Awareness campaign against swine flu near India-Myanmar border

Kamjong (Manipur), May 7 : Veterinary doctors and other authorities have geared up to combat swine flu outbreak by launching awareness campaign among residents and by organising massive vaccination for pigs in villages near India-Myanmar border in Manipur.

Doctors recently organized an awareness campaign in Awongtang Kamjong border village of Ukhrul District, around 120 kilometers away from Imphal.

As preventive measures, department workers and officials have started awareness programme in border areas such as Kamjong and Poi in Ukhrul district, by visiting and conducting public meetings with the representatives of different civil organizations of the Kamjong Village.

Doctors are highlighting the probable threats of transmitting the disease from the livestock animals that are illegally imported from Myanmar to the village.

"Especially here people of this place are doing business of livestock trade especially pig or avian’s and other livestock. As this place is important place for transportation of animals from international border area, so we like to give message to people for taking precautionary measures of the dreaded disease of swine flu," said Dr. K. Gopal Singh, a disease specialists.

Authorities are also appealing other civil bodies and church representatives to check and prevent any kind of import of livestocks from Myanmar, as the State Government has already banned such imports of livestocks.

Residents involved in the livestock trade are happy with the awareness progaramme as they believe it would really help in dealing with deadly disease to great extent.

"The Veterinary Department has already announced the disease as deadly and dangerous disease. We are grateful and happy that the efforts taken by the department to educate and make us aware of the disease," said S. D Lowin Singh, a resident.

Although the Central Government has only issued an advisory to all states in the remote northeastern region and not sounded any particular directives, the State Government has initiated preventive measures against swine fever.