EDUCATIONAL talks are being planned throughout the country to give poultry farmers a greater role in the campaign against avian flu, the managing director of the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department, Dr Ohn Kyaw, said last week.

Creating greater awareness among poultry farmers and other members of the public about the importance of reporting suspected outbreaks of avian flu was essential to prevent and control the disease, Dr Ohn Kyaw said.

“The people need to alert the authorities immediately if their chickens get sick or if they suspect an outbreak, so we will be able to contain the disease in a short period,” he said.

Early detection and a rapid response were critical to control outbreaks, said Dr Ohn Kyaw, who is also the national consultant for communications for Myanmar’s Avian Influenza Integrated Program to combat the disease.

A public role in early surveillance was crucial because it was not easy for the department’s veterinarians to monitor the large numbers of poultry throughout the country, he said.

Dr Ohn Kyaw was speaking after the completion of a course to train instructors in the surveillance and control of avian flu and in giving educational talks to the public about the disease, which can be fatal to humans.

The course, organised by the department, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, was held at the Sedona Hotel from September 11 to 13.

Specialists from the department, the OIE, the FAO and the European Union gave lectures at the course, which was attended by 17 veterinarians from throughout Myanmar.

A lecture on establishing a community-based early reporting system was also presented at the course, said Dr Ohn Kyaw.

The veterinarians, as well as specialists from the department and the FAO, will conduct training courses for the public as part of a national education program.
The department and the FAO were finalising arrangements for the program, Dr Ohn Kyaw said.