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NAQIA working on methods to eradicate
Newcastle disease
By ELIZABETH VUVU
THE National Agriculture Quarantine Inspection Authority is working hard
to establish mechanisms so an effective containment programme is in
place to eradicate chickens affected by the Newcastle disease in East
New Britain.
NAQIA’s chief veterinary officer Dr Ilagi Puana revealed this in regard
to concerns raised by the Poultry Industry Association (PIA) that the
poultry industry in the country was under threat.
PIA also expressed concern at the way in which NAQIA had responded to
the presence of the disease in ENB so far.
However, Dr Puana said immediate eradication could not be done for
various reasons which included:
*Lack of established and operable response
plan, including provincial animal disease response capabilities for
mobilisation of provincial and national resources for an immediate
animal disease response;
*Lack of prior awareness of the Newcastle
disease and familiarity of the community affected;
*Lack of sufficient funding; and,
*Inadequate professional manpower (veterinary)
capabilities for wider surveillance and risk assessment work.
Dr Puana said ideally, when detecting such disease like the Newcastle
and bird flu, immediate action was to eradicate the disease quickly
before it spread to other areas.
He said in this instance and in PNG situation, this could not be the
case due to reasons mentioned.
Meanwhile, there has been overwhelming support from ENB in terms of
cooperation and mobilisation of personnel.
All it requires now is sufficient funding and appropriate request has
been lodged with authorities concerned.
Dr Puana said arrangements were now ready for a NAQIA veterinary officer
to be relocated permanently to Kokopo to provide technical support.
In the meantime, they have been rotating vets on a weekly basis since
the first confirmation of the disease late last November.
 
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