Wednesday, November 16 2005 18:38 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Beijing: India, which is on 'full alert' against the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu, will coordinate with China as part of a planned agreement to combat infectious diseases, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Anbumani Ramadoss, said here today (Nov 16, 2005).

"The Government machinery has been put on full alert in India for the bird flu," Ramadoss told sources here after holding talks with Chinese Health Minister, Gao Qiang.

"In India, the only way bird flu can occur is through migratory birds. For this, we need to have coordination with the Chinese Government about the migratory pattern of the birds," he said.

Ramadoss said the bird flu epidemic situation was discussed during the meeting with Gao and the Chinese minister briefed the Indian side about the various steps taken by Beijing to contain the spread of avian flu and avert the possibility of human infections.

China has already reported ten cases of H5N1 infections since October this year resulting in the culling of millions of poultry in the affected areas. Moreover, the World Health Organisation is re-examining three cases of suspected bird flu infections in humans in central China's Hunan province where a 12-year-old girl died last month due to 'pneumonia'.

Poultry in India has been constantly monitored by the Animal Husbandry Ministry. Random sample tests are being conducted all across the country, Ramadoss said.

The Environment Ministry is monitoring bird sanctuaries and samples have been lifted from migratory birds also, Ramadoss said.

The Government had banned import of poultry from affected countries in 2003 itself, the minister noted.

The Government will upgrade key laboratories and enhance vaccine manufacturing capabilities as well, he said.

"In the eventually of a bird flu outbreak, we need to have vaccines at that point of time. Rather than starting a factory at that point of time, it is better to have an institute to address the issue. Work on this is progressing," Ramadoss said.

Over 60 people have died of bird flu in Southeast Asia since 2003. Scientists warn that continued contact between infected birds and humans might eventually result in the virus mutating into a form that could be easily passed among people.

Ramadoss said the Government is trying to buy one million doses of 'Tami flu' an anti-flu treatment drug produced by Swiss multinational Roche. Right now, the government has procured through the World Health Organization (WHO) some 20,000 doses which would be adequate to contain possible human infections from bird flu.

The Government will soon hold a meeting between of the Ministries of Health, Environment, Agriculture and Animal Husbandry to discuss the latest situation on the bird flu front.

The minister said India and China are working on signing a bilateral agreement on the model of an earlier Indo-US agreement to prevent current recurring diseases.