The state of Manipur is presently in the grip of a new threat poised to create even more panic and mayhem in the coming days. With the death of a confirmed case of swine flu infected victim and another death suspected to be suffering from the same infection, the long and uneasy wait for the inevitable is finally over. And while allegations over the preparedness- or the lack of it- by the state government is increasingly doing the rounds, with understandable concerns in case of the infection spreading to the remote corners of Manipur, the alarming news of the breakout of “Bird Flu” in parts of neighbouring Myanmar close to the states of Nagaland, Tripura and Mizoram is gaining momentum, adding to the already heightened sense of foreboding and anxiety. The present bird-flu scare is the second such incident in the state, the previous case of infection being detected in July 2007. Incidentally, the bird flu virus that was detected was the highly pathogenic Qinghai strain, which is capable of infecting humans. Genetic sequencing of the virus, isolated from the small poultry farm at Chingmeirong in Imphal East district, which reported the outbreak, has shown it to be similar to the virus that originated in China’s mid-western province of Qinghai.The brevity of the situation presently unfolding can be gauged from the seriousness and intensity with which the topic is discussed and deliberated, dominating public consciousness and occupying the collective concern about the impending outbreak that has every possibility of acquiring epidemic proportion. The widespread use of masks by the people in public places also drives home the level of awareness. While the state Government have declared their preparedness to meet any contingencies and emergencies as a result of the infections in select hospitals in the state capital, the same cannot be said for the remaining ones in the other districts of the state, despite claims by the government to the effect. There is also the requirement of spreading awareness and educating the mass regarding the dos and don’ts for early detection and also to prevent the infection from spreading. Enough stress cannot be placed on the probable fallout in the eventuality of the infection spreading to the far-flung corners of the state where there is neither the resource nor the knowledge of dealing with such an unusual and potentially catastrophic situation. For now, the state government should ensure all guidelines and formalities laid down for such a situation is followed to the letter. It must also take up steps to ensure that the public understands and complies with the arrangements taken up in this regard. The public needs to know that their lives are not risked with false promises and empty assurances.
