When birds die mysteriously ...
... are our agencies ready to coordinate a course of action?
... which agency do we call during such incidents?
Today Online 17 Jan 08;
Letter from CHUA TEE LIAN
Letter from THOMAS LEE ZHI ZHI
THE report, "The eagles have landed" (Jan 15), may read like a light-hearted story, but there is a serious lesson to be learnt from this.
The National Environment Agency's (NEA) response shows that they do not understand Mr Chris Lau's concerns over the two white-bellied sea eagles which landed on the balcony of his Jalan Kayu home.
The issue here is not about animal welfare or the disposal of carcasses.
It is about our readiness if and when avian influenza hits us, which sadly, is non-existent judging from the responses Mr Lau was given and the attitude demonstrated by the various agencies.
When birds die mysteriously, a network alert system must be in place so that the relevant authorities in charge of wildlife and public health can communicate with one another whenever an agency receives an alert from a member of the public.
A coordinated action plan must immediately follow, which should include a quarantine of the area, checking the birds for infection and if necessary, testing those who may have been exposed, as prompt action is needed to curb the spread of any diseases.
Let's not forget the painful lessons from Sars (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome).
Although the authorities had acted swiftly, it was too late for some.
Without being too much of an alarmist, the question we have to ask ourselves is: Are we prepared for an avian influenza epidemic?
I REFER to the report about the eagles which landed in a house at Jalan Kayu (Jan 15).
I can sympathise with the resident who had called the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), the National Environment Agency (NEA), the Singapore Zoological Gardens and Jurong BirdPark.
The report also carried some advice from the AVA about which agency to call during such situations.
Singapore's civil service has been touted to be world-class and efficient, but is this really the case?
In a truly world-class system, the first agency approached would have coordinated action with the other relevant agencies.
Citizens need a quick and easy reference point on who to approach the next time another injured animal finds its way into our homes.
