I would like to bring to the notice of the authorities concerned that, it is the Veterinary Research Institute (V.R.I) that should have launched an investigation following the mysterious death of several cranes and not the Medical Research Institute.

The above incidence should have been brought promptly to the notice of the Director General who in turn should have directed the V.R.I, Veterinary Surgeon concerned to conduct an Inquiry.

As far as the livestock and poultry matters are concerned it is the veterinarian who has the authority to carry out post mortem examinations and other investigations and not the M.O.H. Once the disease is diagnosed and confirmed, if it is zoonotic (i.e. infectious to humans from animals) from this point onwards the health authorities and MOH should take up the investigations and follow up actions.

Dr. R. Sundararajah.

RETD. Deputy Provincial Director(Central)