The
Azerbaijan Health Ministry and Veterinary Service announced
the presence of avian influenza virus H5N1 in Azerbaijan in
February 2006. The number of affected birds is difficult to
estimate.
According to the World Health Organisation, samples were taken
from 11 people who might have been infected. Of these, eight
tested positive, six of which came from Daikyand, a settlement
of some 800 homes in Salyan, in the south-eastern part of the
country. Five cases proved fatal, with four of those who died
having lived together or near each other.
During meetings between the government and different international
agencies, the need to raise awareness through leaflets and posters
was emphasised. With bird migration and an avian influenza outbreak
expected in April, the population needs to be aware of preventive
measures to minimize the risk of infections in humans.
The Azerbaijan Red Crescent has a long-standing plan, which
has been in place since December 2005, to combat the threat
of avian influenza. A key part of this is training workshops,
which aim to give Red Crescent staff and volunteers comprehensive
information so that they can raise awareness and undertake preventive
measures among local communities in their districts and regions.
The training was held in Baku and four regions considered most
exposed to the virus.
Other aspects of the plan include conducting surveys to find
out the level of awareness of local populations on avian influenza
- a poll conducted among 250 people living in Baku, Ganja and
Sabirabad revealed that 70 per cent of them have general information
about avian influenza – as well as distributing publicity
materials for children and adults, carrying out health promotion
campaigns and monitoring and evaluation activities.
Information about avian influenza and preventive measures has
been distributed to all Azerbaijan Red Crescent regional centres
and local committees. In case of observing bird flu symptoms,
the message to the population is to contact state medical structures,
the local committee of the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society for
further assistance. Several websites also carry relevant information,
such as the Red Crescent web page (http://www.redcrescent.az/news29.htm)
and a local, popular web-news page, called Azerweb
(http://www.azerweb.com/ngos/271/events/1097/index.doc).
The Red Crescent plan covers 24 districts within five regions
(Lankaran, Sabirabad, Ganja, Mingachevir and Sumgayit). As part
of this, 140 volunteers have been trained and will spread the
message to local populations in 360 villages.
The Azerbaijan Red Crescent has also issued 3,000 leaflets entitled,
‘Attention! What you should know about bird flu’.
Another 18,000 posters and 90,000 leaflets with the same message
have already been printed.
“Scientists are worried that if the bird flu virus, H5N1,
mutates, then it could be transmitted from human to human,”
explained Matanat Garakhanova, coordinator of the health and
care programme of the Azerbaijan Red Crescent to the volunteers
at a training session. “This could result in a pandemic
and cause millions of death all over the world.”
The sessions were also attended by Red Crescent regional coordinators,
chairmen of local committees and representatives of local authorities,
sanitation-epidemiological and veterinary departments.
“We have birds in our households and our wives and children
are in contact with them,” said Parviz Mehdiyev, chairman
of the Red Crescent Zaqatala branch, speaking at the workshop.
“We are trying not to let these birds out, in order to
prevent any contact with wild birds. Nevertheless, we are worried
about the health of our relatives and need to think how to protect
them. My suggestion is that we need special uniforms or at least
masks and gloves.”
A veterinarian from Balakend district went on to describe how
all employees of the veterinary service there have been given
special uniforms. If any household bird deaths are reported,
special teams from the veterinary and sanitation-epidemiological
services carry out preventive measures such as isolating the
territory and burning dead birds. The most important thing is
that the local population provides information immediately.
Bringing the workshop to a close, Matanat Garakhanova told participants:
“The next step is to take these sessions to the villages
in your districts. Your assistance as trained staff will be
very important. We really hope that our health promotion work
will reduce the spread of avian influenza in
Azerbaijan and help people to protect their lives.”
The Azerbaijan Red Crescent and the International Federation
country delegation are working in close cooperation with the
Ministry of Health, the State Commission for Bird Flu Prevention,
the World Health Organization (WHO) as well as UNICEF.
UNICEF coordinates its work in health prevention with UN agencies
(UNAIDS UNDP) and NGOs like International Relief and Development,
USAID, International Medical Corps, Mercy Corps, as well as
with a number of embassies in Azerbaijan. One of the last meetings
focused on developing communication strategies and messages
and on training of youth and agriculture workers in preventive
measures. This is especially important since there are reports
that in the Salyan district most people are still not mobilized
or aware about key issues related to avian flu.
USAID is supporting training in the field for veterinary services
on surveillance systems and rapid testing. The Japanese government
is providing support, mostly for laboratory equipment for six
veterinary laboratories in the country, the training of laboratory
technicians and transportation costs.
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One
of the bird flu sessions: Matanat Garakhanova, Coordinator
of Health and care programme of Azerbaijan Red Crescent
is conducting seminar on Avian Influenza among volunteers
from five Red Crescent regional centers. (p13988)
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Representatives
from State Veterinary Service conduct preventive measures
in one of the incubators of Baku city. (p13989)
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