Malaysia Veterinary Forum (Archive)

Dr Kwok · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 130 Location: Selangor

:lol: hi just like to tell everyone, the whole 5th year vet students of UPM were sent off like an emergency to Institut Pengurusan Veterinar Cheras to participate in the AI surveillance team on last thursday , 23/2/06.

We were divided into 38 team, 4/5 in each team and started our work on early morning of 24/2/06.

Our job scope is not stamping out but just to take cloacal swabs from avian species located within 2 km to 10 km from the infected area.
We were able to finish by sunday but i don know about the result yet.
I would say it recieve a lot of attention from the people and they are really very concern about this AI thing especially those stay near the infected area.
:P
From my own observation, KL actually still have a lot of "setinggan area" where kampung chickens are kept .It was kind of a new experience for me though. :o :o :o

Dr. TanDY · Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2006 2:30 pm Post subject:

I'm worried for the safety of you guys. Are you all wearing any kind of protecting suite (e.g. face mask) during the sampling?

It is quite dangerous I think. Why they sent all the students to handle these biohard, potentially fatal samples?

Aren't your parents said anything about this?

Dr Nat · Joined: 07 Dec 2005 Posts: 1834 Location: Klang Valley

OMG!! Why are they making use of students now?? It is a good experience for the students, but they shouldn't just sent the students over there to do potentially dangerous activities like this. How many of the students are actually capable to handle it professionally??

Regarding the face mask thing.. I remember seeing it in the newspapers a pic of ppl culling chickens. All wearing protective gear, except that their goggles are on top of their heads. Not a brialliant move...

kcniv · Joined: 15 Jan 2006 Posts: 52

Dr Nat wrote: OMG!! Why are they making use of students now?? It is a good experience for the students, but they shouldn't just sent the students over there to do potentially dangerous activities like this. How many of the students are actually capable to handle it professionally??

Just wanna share...Me in Indonesia...hmmm, I'm doing AI and ANTHRAX surveillance totally without wearing a mask and glove...kesian kan...Ouchhh...One of our member (student), u know what... Kena ANTHRAX (skin)... So far... I'm still alive...hehehe... Ada yang cakap...Orang Indon kebal-kebal...kekeeheheeh... But I'm Malaysian and belum kebal as Indonesian ppl... Okay guys take care... and becareful oraitzz...

Dr. TanDY · Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2006 9:18 pm Post subject:

Correct me if I'm wrong. But I think they are desperately need some manpower to complete the surveillance works (big pressure from the top management).

And of course, students, are their target because they are easier to manipulate (will hear very little complaint) and cheap (or should I say is free).

Anyway, thanks for sharing with us this kind of thing Kwok. You have done a good job.

It really opens my eyes today :shock: :shock:

Dr Nat · Joined: 07 Dec 2005 Posts: 1834 Location: Klang Valley

Looking at this guide by the CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/professional/protect-guid.htm for the protection of workers invloved in eradication of AI, I dont see it applies to our Malaysian workers. I guess in the US, they really value lives.

Dr Chong · Joined: 12 Dec 2005 Posts: 666 Location: KL

Be careful students... Are you required to sign any consent form before going?

Dr Kwok · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 130 Location: Selangor

Very sad to say, i think most of us did not think of asking letter for parents to sign.

Dr Hassan ( our ketua jabatan ) just throw a emergency meeting on last wednesday and thursday and the same afternoon we are rushed to the institute . He said it was compulsory and part of the rotation .some of us say its like " khidmat negara" :shock:

And our attire is not like what Dr Nat showed , we only wear a cap, normal coveralls ( washed daily by dobi), normal disposable gloves, masks and gum boots. hope to show you some pic soon

Before we start, they asked us to sign a letter saying if anything happen to us, we are responsible for ourselves, not DVS or anyone. :roll:

Well maybe you could say we were manipulated in someway, but most of us really took precautions.

and for myself , i did told my parents and i told them i was happy to do it , and they agree as long as i was careful. but for some, they don even dare to tell parents...

maybe scared they heart attack... :shock:

no matter how, we learnt something from it .

kcniv · Joined: 15 Jan 2006 Posts: 52

Kwok wrote: Before we start, they asked us to sign a letter saying if anything happen to us, we are responsible for ourselves, not DVS or anyone. :roll:

What will happen if u not sign it ?? Do they force u to sign a letter ??

Dr. TanDY · Posted: Sat Mar 04, 2006 8:14 am Post subject:

I'm glad all of you are safe!

Dr eetling_ong · Joined: 14 Dec 2005 Posts: 4 Location: Sunway S'gor

Anyway, better be careful and take more precautious steps for this kind of activities. In my opinion, i don't think you guys should involve.
and you guys are dealing with global most alert flu virus that might threaten you.
just be careful,students!! :) :)

Dr Kwok · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 130 Location: Selangor

this is what we wore during the surveillance, orange coverall, cap and mask .. and these are the flask we used to transport the samples,
and the swab is just common cotton swab ( not sterile also ...)

what do you think ?
For more pic i think you can visit dobot website

doBot · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 7 Location: DVM5 UPM

Hi there...

I like to add more information, it's not only us who involved in this AI surveillance. It involved all federal veterinary department in Malaysia. That mean, there were VO,AVO and VA from every states involved in this operation.

From what Dr nat said, "How many of the students are actually capable to handle it professionally?". From my experienced there, our student always capable to do this. But, sad to said that some AVO and VA didn't take this as serious matter. Sometimes, they catch bird without wearing mask.

It's hard to believe there some VOs take for granted this operation. They didnt do random sampling. Sometimes, they take all sampel (10 sampels per bottle) in the same house. Do they act professionally?

In my group, there is one AVO and one VA. If the housing area had fierce dog, they didn't want to take the sampel. "Alaa, dobot...tak payah buat la. Anjing garang tu". For me, it is not a problem. We can handle this dog, but can we handle AI if we miss to collect sample at that area???

There some people said,...."alaa....keje gomen..."

Gomen is gomen. If highly contagious disease occur, we should not take it for granted.

(gomen=goverment)

Ok la...to view my album, u can click here.

http://www.dobot.com.my/photo/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=3532

Dr Kwok · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 130 Location: Selangor

Haha actually i agree with dobot fully !! I think they should let us students to be in charge of the situation, then everything sure be properly done... but the real world outside, no matter government or private, lots of thing unexplained or understood