Avian Influenza: Not Again!

AVIAN INFLUENZA: NOT AGAIN!

     It’s only a-day old kid that is yet to realize that Nigeria is currently bewildered by the reemergence of Avian Influenza popularly known as ‘Bird flu’. When Ebola virus was on board in the country some months ago, as an analyst and activist, in most of my commentaries I categorically stated that Nigeria would surely overcome the scourge if we could employ severe and sustainable measure just as we did during the era of avian influenza.

     To have used avian influenza as an instance as regards severe approach towards containing an epidemic signified that undoubtedly every needed step was taken when the country firstly experienced the disease (Bird flu) in 2006. To this end, the capital question that needs to be asked at this point is: why the reemergence, or why is the country experiencing the outbreak for a second time barely after nine years of its initial occurrence?

     The country was able to overcome the said pandemic infection during its previous outbreak, specifically in 2006, owing to the tactical and drastic approach employed by the government and other concerned bodies. This implies that the reemergence of the menace might not be unconnected to the fact that we went to sleep or on a recess; that is, apathy on the part of the concerned authorities and personnel regarding sustenance of the measure initially utilized. In view of this assertion, it’s high time we are awoke.

     Presently, survey indicates that seven outbreaks of highly pathogenic Avian Influenza have been discovered in Nigeria. Six of the A(H5N1) outbreaks were reported in the central and northern regions of the country, which affected states like Kano, Plateau, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT); over 21 thousand birds were reportedly killed while over 17 thousand were destroyed in these six outbreaks. Another outbreak occurred in the southern region of Bayelsa, affecting 8-week old pullets; 850 poultry died whereas 2150 were destroyed in this very outbreak. Officials said that farm workers visit other farms in the affected areas, which has great implications for possible infection routes and biosecurity.

     Avian influenza is an infectious viral disease of birds particularly wild water fowls like ducks and geese among other such animals as pigs, whales and horses. Most avian influenza viruses don’t infect humans; however, some to include A(H5N1) and A(H7N9) have caused serious infections in people. It is noted that outbreaks of A1 in poultry may raise global public health concerns as a result of their effect on poultry populations, their potential to cause serious disease in people, and their pandemic potential.

     The majority of human cases of A(H5N1) and A(H7N9) infection have been associated with direct or indirect contact with infected live or dead poultry. There is no evidence that the virus can be spread to people through properly cooked food. It’s worthy to acknowledge that controlling the disease in animals is the first and basic step towards curtailing risks to humans. It often causes no apparent signs of illness among the infected animals.

     A1 viruses can sometimes spread to domestic poultry and cause large-scale outbreaks of serious disease. Some of these A1 viruses have also been reported to cross the species barrier and cause disease or subclinical infections in humans and other mammals. We need to note that A1 viruses are divided into two major classes based on their ability to cause disease in poultry namely, high pathogenicity and low pathogenicity.

      Highly pathogenic viruses usually result in high death rates, up to 100% mortality within forty-eight hours in some poultry species. On the other hand, lowly pathogenic viruses also cause outbreaks in poultry but are not generally associated with severe disease or attack.

     The case fatality rate for A(H5N1) and A(H7N9) virus infections in people is much higher compared to that of seasonal influenza infections. The A(H7N9) virus mostly affects people with underlying medical conditions. In many patients, the disease caused by the A(H5N1) virus follows an unusually aggressive clinical course with rapid deterioration and high fatality. Like most emerging disease, A(H5N1) influenza in humans is yet to be well understood.

     The incubation period for A(H5N1) Avian Influenza may be longer than that for normal seasonal influenza which is around two to three days. Current data for A(H5N1) infection indicate an incubation period  ranging from two to eight days or possibly as long as seventeen days. Whilst, present data for A(H7N9) infection indicate an incubation period ranging from two to eight days.

     Initial symptoms of Avian Influenza include high fever usually with a temperature higher than 38 degrees Celsius, and other influenza-like symptoms including cough and sore-throat. In some patients, signs such as diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, chest pain, and bleeding from the nose and gums might also be noticed. One feature often seen in most patients is the development of lower respiratory tract in the early stage of the illness; also, a hoarse voice, respiratory distress, and a crackling sound when inhaling are commonly observed. Sputum production varies in individuals and sometimes bloody. Complications of A(H5N1) and A(H7N9) infections include hypoxemia, multiple organ dysfunction, as well as secondary bacterial and fungal infections.

     The fundamental risk factor for human infection, as stated earlier, appears to be direct or indirect exposure to infected live or dead poultry, or contaminated environments such as live bird markets. Indeed, controlling circulation of the A(H5N1) and A(H7N9) viruses in poultry is essential to reducing the risk of human contraction. There is no proof to suggest that the aforementioned viruses can be transmitted to humans through properly prepared poultry meals including meats and eggs.

     A few A(H5N1) human cases have been linked to consumption of dishes made of raw or contaminated poultry blood. More so, slaughtering, defeathering, handling carcasses of infected poultry and preparing poultry for consumption especially in household settings are likely to be risk factors. Most importantly, it’s imperative to comprehend that most humans have little or no immunity to A(H5N1) and A(H7N9) viruses.

      Strong evidence suggests that some antiviral drugs, notably Oseltamivir, can reduce the duration of viral replication as well as improve prospects of survival. In suspected cases, the aforesaid drug ought to be prescribed as soon as possible, ideally within 48 hours following symptom onset, to maximize its therapeutic benefits. Notwithstanding, given the significant mortality currently associated with A(H5N1) and A(H7N9) infection and evidence of prolonged viral replication in this disease, administration of the drug should also be considered necessary in patients presenting the symptom(s) later in the course of illness. Mind you; the use of corticosteroids is prohibited.

     In cases of severe infection with the viruses, clinicians may need to consider increasing the recommended daily dose and/or the duration of treatment. In severely ill A(H5N1) or A(H7N9) patients, or in carriers with severe gastrointestinal symptoms, drug absorption may be impaired; this possibility ought to be considered when managing these patients. Furthermore, most A(H5N1) and A(H7N9)  viruses are predicated to be resistant to adamantine antiviral drugs, which are usually recommended for use during treatment.

     According to World Health Organization (WHO), in view of the persistence of the prevalent avian influenza viruses in some poultry populations, control or eradication would require long-term commitments from affected countries as well as strong coordination between various animal and public health authorities.

     Acknowledging the unarguable fact that prevention is extremely better than cure, there’s a compelling need for the general public to be thoroughly educated on the prime causes and mode of transmission of the virus. Since human-to-human transmission is presently far-fetched or rarely possible, it’s imperative for us to apply adequate caution while dealing with the primary hosts of the dreaded virus such as fowls, ducks, pigs, whales, and horses, among others, particularly the fowls or poultry at large which are the closest to human beings; hence, the various poultry owners across the federation ought to be properly sensitized in respect to this obvious fact.

      The farmers in question must be meant to comprehend that there’s need for them or anyone else who intends to enter into their farms to be well kilted. There’s also a crucial need for the said farms and other related environments like poultry markets and what have you, to be adequately fumigated from time-to-time. Every poultry keeper, or livestock farmers in general should ensure that his/her farm is entitled to a qualified and reliable veterinary doctor and the medic ought to endeavour to regularly visit the farm. In the same vein, poultry consumers ought to be conscientized to endeavour to properly boil or cook any meat or egg before consumption. The media, ministries of Agriculture, various farmers’ unions, the civil society and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) have a very vital and cogent role to play in this aspect.

      Similarly, the concerned government authorities or agencies, but not limited to, ought to regularly make the Avian Influenza vaccine available in every nook and cranny of the country to enable the citizenry assess them easily; and such practice should be subsequently sustained even having overcome the scourge. No doubt, the above proposed measure if holistically adhered to would go a long way towards salvaging the country in its entirety from this unforeseen mess. Think about it!

 

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor
Follow: @mediambassador  

Aftermath of Imo Concession Policy

AFTERMATH OF THE IMO CONCESSION POLICY

      Few nights ago, I was as not unusual listening to my radio set with keen passion not until I became saturated with the very station I was following; hence I thought it wise to touch the dial with the intention of tuning to other wave bands to ascertain which one would suit my listening pleasure. Before I could take the step as planned, a melody that rekindles my humble soul was instantly played by the Disc Jockey on duty; consequently, therein my arms became seemingly paralysed or were tightly tied.

      What is currently witnessed in Imo State otherwise known as the ‘Eastern Heartland’ as regards the state’s recent concessioning policy might be synonymous with the above narrative. The former comprises Gov Rochas Okorocha, Imo workers and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), whereas the latter (the narrative) is made up of the radio set, the listener and the Disc Jockey (DJ); in this case, Gov Okorocha could be linked to the listener having linked the Imo workers to the radio set, whilst the NLC is apparently similar to the DJ. The rest is history.

      Let’s face the reality. It is no longer news that most of the state-owned parastatals and agencies in the said state were recently concessioned by the Rochas Okorocha led administration; and in consequence to the measure, the affected civil servants were purportedly suspended indefinitely by the government - a mandate that had succeeded in generating uncontrollable uproar both in the state and beyond.

      The NLC has warned the workers involved not to adhere to the purported suspension notice issued by the state government thereby asking them to remain in their various offices and duty posts without exercising any iota of fear even if they are served with death warrants owing to their rebellion.

      In respect to the directive of the NLC, I reportedly learnt that efforts made by the Transition Committee Chairmen of most of the LGAs in the state who had gone to displace the distressed workers in their respective councils with the help of security personnel as were instructed by the government proved abortive. According to news making the rounds, the futility of their efforts was not unconnected to the repulsive measure taken by the members of the host communities where the various affected parastatals are situated; apparently the communities in question are not gladdened by the ‘unjust’ treatment received by the poor workers.

      I, albeit humorously, mocked one of my childhood friends some days ago amidst an informal gathering. Thereafter, the said fellow confided in me and disclosed wholeheartedly that he learned a lot from the sarcasm I used on his person. What are we saying in essence? Life is all about criticisms and ability of the supposed recipient to absorb or manage the constructive ones effectively. Thus if a certain criticism is targeted to someone, he/she ought not to be dismayed by the gesture, rather is expected to try as much as possible to learn something tangible from it.

      Concessioning, disengagement, suspension or what have you, may have been the order of the day in Imo thereby constituting series of cacophony in various quarters, but it’s imperative for us to comprehend some vital facts attached to the seemingly unpleasant or unwanted scenario. Lest I forget; this very piece was informed by the one I did penultimate week entitled ‘Okorocha and the suspended Imo workers’, the subsequent reactions generated by the piece in question as well as the latest development in regard to the purported disengagement.

      The fundamental and crucial facts we are meant to acknowledge are as follows: concessioning of firms or parastatals is a worthwhile idea provided tangible and rational reasons are given, and in this case we were informed the action taken by the government was occasioned by the obvious fact that the affected parastatals were moribund. Another vital fact is that most of the workers involved are due for retirement; hence deserve to go for a compulsory rest so that new ones or young and vibrant prospective civil servants would fill the gap – this would also go a long way to increase productivity because the old bloods are indeed weak and incapacitated.

       But at this juncture, we need to ask ourselves some rudimentary questions. If truly that those parastatals were moribund, who or what prompted their disgusting physiognomies? Was it the government, the workers or the public? Unravelling the answers to these questions would save us from distress. Unequivocally, it’s pitiable that every occurrence had been blamed on the present economic meltdown in the country; to this end, there’s a compelling need for us to go back to the drawing board with a view to putting some paramount things in order, especially at this moment we are preoccupied with the way forward or diversification of the existing IGR sources.

      Gov Rochas Okorocha might have taken a gigantic and commendable step but it’s important for his Excellency to note that diplomacy remains the best avenue towards reaching a dialogue, unless he actually doesn’t believe in the aforesaid factor – dialogue. Right now, in the interest of Imolites and the state at large, every logical being would understand that the only option is that the amiable and people friendly governor need to cuddle the affected workers and the labour union in general. Thus, it’s high time we went back to the discussion table.

      Several discussions undoubtedly might have taken place prior to this time but there’s need and room for more. Any project begins with discussion and equally ends with it. We can’t continue like this because the scene is already telling on the entire Imo populace coupled with the ongoing economic crisis, therefore there’s an urgent need for total turnaround. The private investors involved ought to also assist in the proposed peace talk if their intentions are really genuine. On their part, the workers and the NLC as an organized body must endeavour to eschew violence at all cost because that is the least we expect from them.

      My paramount worry is that the health sector is deeply affected by the ongoing mayhem especially at this moment the entire country is experiencing the reemergence of Lassa fever and Avian Influenza popularly called ‘Bird flu’ which is tantamount to placing the state’s health status to a state of jeopardy. The health workers whom are not willing to leave or vacant their duty posts are being heavily distracted on a daily basis, and we are aware of the consequences of such scenario. It isn’t funny at all.

I just learnt that the affected workers had been asked to report to their respective ministries or places of primary assignment for onward relocation or posting to other viable parastatals, departments or agencies. It’s no doubt a welcome development but I candidly plead with the government not to play politics with such sensitive issue that has already overheated the polity. Think about it!

 

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

Follow: @mediambassador  

 

Okorocha and the Suspended Imo Workers

OKOROCHA AND THE SUSPENDED IMO WORKERS

     Several Imolites and Nigerians in general have in different occasions voiced out their feelings on the above topic or issue of the moment as it pleased their individual selves either in the interest of the affected state or based on their personal interests. It‘s against this backdrop that I considered it wise that it’s time I spoke, solely for the interest of Imo state at large.

     Ordinarily I would have chosen to remain silent at this juncture owing to the fact that I detest commenting on a very sensitive issue in haste. But considering the way the polity is being overheated as regards the said ordeal, I was left with no other choice than to break my silence so that Imo would move forward just as its citizens anticipate.

      It was penultimate year that the Gov Rochas Okorocha’s led administration came up with the intention of concessioning most of the government parastatals and departments in Imo State – a matter which I candidly aired my view the moment the news arrived my desk. At a point, I almost took it personal because I perceived how sensitive the motive was. Thousands of concerned Imolites both home and abroad reacted towards the fortunate or unfortunate proposal, which never augured well with the state labour union,

      First; I want to let us comprehend fully the difference between deregulation and concession. The former is the act of selling off a certain government firm or parastatal to an interested private investor or entrepreneur due to one or two reasons. Whilst, the latter is the practice of leasing the management of a particular government firm or parastatal to an interested private investor/entrepreneur for a stipulated or given period of time owing to one or two reasons.

      Similarly, it’s also worthy for us to note that there’s what is called Public-Private Partnership; this arrangement or measure is quite different from the aforementioned ones, though a bit similar to concessioning. In a Public-Private partnership, the government leases the management of a particular section of a certain firm or parastatal to a private investor for a given period of time.

     
For instance; in the Nigeria’s power sector when the former name National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) was changed to Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), what was actually involved was public-private partnership or concessioning of a certain section in the sector. Power supply involves three major segments which are: the generation, transmission, and distribution segments/phases; these three sections are what guarantee power supply or electricity. So what the federal government did was that it concessioned the distribution segment of the power sector to a private investor.

      Various factors could lead to deregulation, concessioning or public-private partnership, as the case may be. It could be as a result of economic meltdown; in this situation, the affected government may not have the financial muscle to continue with the day-to-day running of the firm/parastatal. It could also be as a result of futility on the part of the firm; in this perspective, the government would be propelled to seek for private management with a view to improving the strength of the available man power. The power sector distribution section was concessioned owing to this factor (futility).

     
Among all, it could be as a result of corruption or docility among the management or the overall staff of the parastatal in question; in this situation, the government would prefer a private ownership or overseer in order to help correct or address the anomaly. The obvious advantage of this very measure is that, the private overseer would have more time to monitor the staff or the entire labour force thereby ascertaining their paramount plights or needs with the aim of confronting any ongoing lapses, ineffectiveness or inefficiency among them, or avoiding the occurrence of any of the menaces in future. In a nutshell, private management helps tremendously in blocking leakages or loopholes thereby improving the productivity level as well as economic status of the affected parastatal.

       Few weeks ago, the Imo State government announced the firms or parastatals that have been successfully concessioned to various private investors; the affected parastatals were asked to bear with the government. At the moment, the fundamental matter arising is no longer the concessioning, rather the workers of the affected parastatals that were therein suspended indefinitely by the government. Right now, the aggrieved workers whom have publicly decried the ordeal don’t even know what their fate entails.

      As a concerned stakeholder and patriotic Imolite, I was one of the few who supported the government’s move to concession the affected parastatals since the reasons for the proposed concessioning as were given by the government appeared genuine having learnt that the parastatals involved were currently moribund or non-productive thereby making the workers docile, but we must acknowledge the fact that there are some rudimentary conditions that must be reached before a certain firm/parastatal is concessioned by the government.

      It’s either you reabsorb the affected workers into other existing ministries, departments or agencies, or you pay them off which must include all their entitlements and amicably ask them to go home with an unquantifiable apology for the inconveniences; this very approach is expected to be handled with an optimum diplomacy. Unless a worker is found wanting due to a certain corrupt act or he/she is answerable for a certain terrible deed, then he would stand the chance of being laid off without any entitlement or benefit.

      A worker can only be suspended on two crucial grounds: if there’s a questionable character attached to his/her parson, or an investigation is being conducted in respect to his/her office owing to a corrupt practice he/she was accused of; such worker shall remain in suspension until the investigation is duly concluded by the panel set up in that regard. After the investigation if he is found guilty of the accusation, he would be laid off; but on the contrary if he was found innocent, he would be recalled and all the entitlements as well as incentives he had been deprived of while in suspension would be refunded to him immediately without much ado.

     
Now, Imo workers are being suspended without any traceable corrupt practice against their persons or any allegation levelled against them; from my understanding, that is an unfair step thus ought to be reviewed for the interest of the state at large. Even if the government intends to reabsorb them into other sectors or parastatals, as long as their indefinite suspension lasts, they should be entitled to their wages; they may be deprived of their salaries but not wages. Salary is simply the addition of a worker’s wage and his/her allowances; since they don’t go to work anymore, provided they remain bonafide Imo workers, they ought to be entitled to their various wages. Allowances which include transport, wardrobe, accommodation, health, and what have you, are only consequential if/when a worker is productive.

    
The Imo government need to revisit this austerity measure in order to salvage the affected poor Imolites from this traumatic and poignant state, after all the governor has ab initio been reckoned with as the people’s governor thus is expected to act accordingly. A governor whom has bagged several awards due to his extreme passion for the masses and the downtrodden is unarguably expected not to sleep while the said masses are seriously crying foul. We all truly understand that he is trying as well as working assiduously towards rescuing Imo State in its entirety but he must also consider the consequences of his actions in the process. Think about it!

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor