AH&VS Deptt issues advisory for consumers

Dimapur, April 20: In view of the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19 in the country which is also affecting the State, Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services, Nagaland, Kohima has formed a “Task Force” for preparation of Action Plan based on the prevailing situation.

Accordingly, Advisory for the Veterinary Hospitals/ Dispensaries/ Health Centres/ Laboratories/ Livestock/ Poultry Farms/ Office Establishments/ Dairy Processing Plants and Public in General has been framed.

ADVISORY FOR CONSUMERS

(Ref: Reducing animal-human transmission of emerging pathogens: WHO 26-03-2020)

1. Clients visiting Veterinary health care facility are requested to wear mask with clean clothing. It is advised not to enter inside of work facility. Maintain social distancing. Only one attendant will be allowed to carry out OPD formality.
2. Anyone visiting, live animal markets, wet market, or animal product market should practise general hygiene measure, including regular handwashing with soap and water after touching animal and animal product, avoiding touching eye, nose, or mouth with hand, and avoiding contact with sick animal or spoiled animal product.
3. Any contact with animal possibly living in the market (eg: – cat and dog, rodent, birds, bat) should be avoided.
4. Attention should be taken to avoid contact with potentially contaminated waste or fluid on the soil or structure of shop and market facilities.
5. The consumption of raw or undercook of animal product should be avoided. Raw meat, milk, or animal organ should be handled with care to avoid cross contamination with uncooked food as per good food practise. Door to door raw milk delivery by milkman is a potential threat for transmission of contamination.
6. Slaughter house worker, market and those handling live animals and animal product should practise good hygienic practise, including frequent hand washing, wearing protective glove, head cover & apron while handling animal and fresh animal product. Protective clothing should be removed after work and washed. Daily workers should avoid exposing family member to soiled work clothing, shoes or related item.
7. Equipment including knife/Dao and working places should be disinfected frequently, before and after operation.
8. As a general recommendation sick animal should never be slaughter for consumption; death animal should be safely buried or destroyed and contact with the body fluid should be avoided.
9. Any person engaged in delivery of fresh food of animal origin is advised to wear protective apron, head cover, mask, &gloves besides dressing properly with clean clothing.

Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services further stated that the virus causing COVID-19 is SARS-CoV-2. Laboratory experiment revealed that pigs, chickens and ducks did not appear to be susceptible to infection with SARS-CoV-2.

However, citing OIE advisory group on COVID-19 and the Animal-Human interface 7th April 2020 , the Department said  cat, ferret, dog where found to be susceptible to experimental infection of various degrees.

It further stated that livestock species relevant for trade have not been proven to be susceptible to infection with SARS-CoV-2.

District-wise names of Officers with contact number assigned to coordinate for making availability of feed to farmers facing accessibility problem.

(Page News Service)