Why India needs to look east, learn from Thailand’s war against avian flu

But it’s here that India needs to take a close look at what Thailand did when it became one of the first countries to be hit by the avian flu. The Thai government mobilised an army of volunteers to fight the flu, a system that is now praised by international health officials.

Some 750,000 volunteers, one for every 15 rural households, help identify early signs of bird flu, both in poultry and humans. Volunteers regularly advise neighbours about dos and don’ts for the disease. Their messages are simple—never use bare hands to touch sick-looking birds, watch for symptoms in humans.

They teach villagers to be on alert for birds that sit still for unusually long periods or have untidy feathers, swollen necks or feet with red spots— all possible symptoms of avian influenza. And they also check neighbours who fall ill. When a volunteer notices sick birds or people with flu-like symptoms, he or she contacts the local health station which in turn calls an official in one of the 75 provinces that use the programme. An officer called Mr. Bird Flu mobilises response, takes samples and reacts if the birds test positive.

This, health experts agree, is a far more sophisticated way of surveillance. It’s also cost-effective as volunteers don’t take home salaries but get free health benefits for themselves and their families.

Even the results are positive. The monitoring system set up in November 2004 has resulted in a decline in bird flu cases. While 12 people died from bird flu in Thailand in 2004, only two died last year.

In sharp contrast, fatalities are on the rise in Vietnam: 20 deaths in 2004, 19 last year. Nor are the systems very good in countries like China, Cambodia and Laos which have high avian flu deaths.

Health experts say as bird flu spreads fast, early detection is crucial. Since the first human deaths from bird flu were reported in Vietnam in 2003, the disease has spread westward. It has now entered Europe, Africa and the Middle East and India is the latest addition.

“The situation is serious. It has come to India, it is likely to spread more. There can be suspected cases of human infection as more people come in touch with birds. So early detection is crucial,” said Dr Saleem Habayeb, Head of WHO’s South East Asian Regional Office in New Delhi.