H1N1 REACHES INDIA (FROM AMERICA ?)

An NRI travelling from New York (via Dubai and Delhi) to Hyderabad has been isolated after testing positive for H1N1 infection on Staurday the 16th of May 2009. Details of his co-passengers on board have been investigated on a "National Emergency" basis.

A mother and son have been admitted and isolated with symptoms of the disease in Coimbatore yesterday, after student son returned from University in New Jersey complaining about ailments two days ago.

"Tamiflu" the only known cure for the virus has been administered to them.

Indian pharmaceuticals to prepare large scale Flu-vaccine after receiving virus 'seed' from World Health Organization (WHO) and Center for Disease Control (CDC), Atlanta

CONDOLENCE MEETING

11th May 2009

The faculty gathered to condole the untimely and accidental demise of Late R. Nazki, died on Friday, the 8th of May 2009. He was the elder brother of Prof. A.R. Nazki, Dean of the faculty.

A two minute silence was observed to mourn and pray for the departed soul. In a recorded memorandum, the faculty members expressed their grief and joined in prayers with the bereaved family.

NEW ASSIGNMENT FOR PROF. M.S. ZAMA

Professor M.M.S. Zama, Head, Division of Surgery & Radiology has been deputed to join his new assignment as Head, Division of Surgery in the prestigious Indian Veterinary Research Institute at Izatnagar, Uttar Pradesh.

Prof. Zama is deputed for a three year term in IVRI, following an 23 year long illustrous carreer in both SKUAST-Kashmir and SKUAST-Jammu. The faculty wishes him well for his continued success.

NEW SUPREME COURT DIRECTIVES ON RAGGING

The Supreme court on Friday ordered all state government to set up anti-ragging committees. This came as a follow-on of the Kachroo trial, where a 1st year medical student succumbed to brutal ragging in Himachal by seniors under the influence of alcohol. In an attempt to curb both social menace of ragging and alcoholism, the justice bench asks educational institutions to compulsorily recruit psychiatrists for student counseling and de-addiction facilities to control the problem of alcoholism.

DR. SHAHID VISITS AND THANKS HIS ALMA MATER

In a goodwill and thankful gesture, Dr. Shahid Choudhary visited the faculty to thank his alma mater. In an interactive get together with the faculty and students today, Dr. A.R. Nazki, Dean welcomed him and were all praises for his meritorius and fruitful career. Dr. Shahid gave credit to his grooming in the veterinary college which helped him acheve his goal of reaching the prestigious civil administrative service. He shared his experiences with the aspiring students and said he will always remain available to them for his advice and guidance in their career planning.

A NATIONAL SHAME

Premier tiger reserves and tiger havens are becoming empty of their prime denizens. Recently a tiger census put the population of the big cat to naught, in Panna National Park, Madhya Pradesh. After Sariska in Rajasthan, this is the second protected tiger reserve to have lost its resident tiger population. Tiger conservationsits are shocked and alarmed at this discovery, however contradicted by the political brigade. The news came in after Two female tigers were to be translocated to the park. Ironically, the park had been awarded with excellence as 'The Best Maintained Tourist Friendly National Park of the Country' by the Ministry of Tourism Govt. of India on 25th Jan 2007 .

India already has its share of extinctions with the Indian cheetah last reported in 1973-74. Illegal poaching, habitat destruction, diseases, etc. looms over the big cats fate. The tigers are believed to be the best index in judging a healthy habitat and ecosystem. Since they form the apex of the food chain pyramid, a large population indicates abundant fauna on the lower rungs, and dwindling numbers could well be alarming for a dying ecosytem.

DR. SHAHID IQBAL CHOUDHARY DOES IT AGAIN - FROM IFS TO IAS

An alumni and presently posted as DFO in Srinagar (after clearing the IFS examamination in 2004), Dr. Choudhary also cleared the Indian Civil Service examinations this year (ranked 51). He belongs to village Rehan, Budhal tehsil, Rajouri district in Jammu and formerly worked as a veterinary surgeon in Rajouri. Mr. Imtiyaz Ismail Parray, an engineering graduate, was another aspirant to make through the prestigious exam this year from the state (ranked 134). Notably, Mr. Abdul Gani Mir, from Handwara, Kupwara, had been the only one to pass the IPS from J&K state back in 1995.
The faculty has also to its credit two other IFS successes. Dr. Senthil Kumar, Assistant Professor, Division of Veterinary Microbiology & Immunology and a resident of Tamil Nadu also made it through the IFS exams earlier. He is presently posted in Jammu. Another noteworthy success was Syed Nadeem Hussain an alumni of this faculty who happens to belong to Kot Behrotra village, Thanamandi tehsil, Rajouri district. They have made this institution proud and hopefully there would be more to follow in their footsteps.

THE POLITICAL COW

Once sipping coffee with some friends of mine, I happened to rest my eyes on a poster hanging on the wall of the cafe. I couldnot know who wrote it, but because the central theme was so beautifully exemplified and oriented around a pair of cows, it immediately took my attention. I am quoting in-toto for the reader. How far politically correct, opinions may differ from the politician to the farmer and the critic, but most cows may agree to it!

Socialism
You have two cows - you give one to your neighbor
Communism
You have two cows – the government takes them both and gives you the milk
Fascism
You have two cows – the government takes both and sells you the milk
Nazism
You have two cows – the government takes both and shoots you
Capitalism
You have two cows – you sell one and buy a bull
Trade Unionism
You have two cows – they take them from you, shoot one, milk the other and throw the milk away
Moral: Don’t have anything to do with cows. They only bring you trouble

VETERINARY OUTSPORT AGRICULTURE STUDENTS

Team veterinary outclassed their agri counterparts in almost all aspects of sports during the Inter-college Meet. Home team excelled in cricket, football, table tennis and volleyball campetitions. Reportedly the agriculture students could outsmart the home team in badminton.

H1N1 ISOLATED FROM CANADIAN PIGS !!

There has been latest reports that pigs in Alberta, Canada have been found to be affected with the H1N1 virus albeit transmitted from humans(?). The virus if we remember, had partly originated from swine and therefore it can get adapted to pigs easily. This is presently the first report of the virus (H1N1) isolated from non-human hosts. We should get to know the details soon as more and more pigs are screened. OIE meanwhile has urged not to go for mass culing of pigs on speculations of the enevitable pandemic. Experts including people in Center of Disease Control (CDC), Atlanta, believe the the virus doesnot seem to be as potential as had been earlier reported from Mexico. The fatality reports have been revised from Mexico.The current mayhem and exertions prompted by the virus worldwide could well be a good exercise while awaiting still dreaded strains yet to evolve or emerge in the near future.

MEET TO REVIEW PROGRESS OF COURSE WORK/ ATTENDANCE

Dean, FVSc & AH, called a joined meeting with all Head of Divisions and concerned course instructors to review and discuss the academic status on 30th April 2009. Progress of course work in theory and practicals classes, avenues for bettering teaching standards, present course curriculum were discussed.
A strict attendance vigil for the students and enforcement of the prescribed cut-off limit was imposed. Directions were issued to bar students with such shortages below 75% from appearing in their end-term exams. Attendance records were also submitted by the respective course instructors.

ON-GOING INTER COLLEGE EVENTS

Inter-college students sports meet undergoing at FVSc & AH campus, Pura. Cricket match held on 3rd May. Football and volleyball matches to be held on 5th May 2009. Posts of results soon to follow.

WORLD VETERINARY DAY CELEBRATIONS

The celebrations included a debate competion on the topic "Cruelty to animals" arranged for the students, and highlighted by a quiz competition participated by students' and faculty alike. INTAS pharmaceutical veterinary wing- NEOVET announced scholarships awarded to top students. Dr. A.R. Nazki, Dean FVSc & AH, deliberated on the theme “Veterinarians and Livestock Farmers: a winning partnership”.

LATEST UPDATES OF INFLUENZA A H1N1

Current level of influenza pandemic alert raised from phase 4 to 5
Guidelines for INFLUENZA A (H1N1) virus

WHAT WHO HAS TO SAY

Statement by WHO Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan 29 April 2009

WHO GIVES "SWINE FLU" A NEW NAME

The swine-flu virus gets a new name after WHO reviewed the virus strain originating from swines and other species. The earlier name was debated as a misnomer that led to speculations about the danger of contacting pigs and consuming pork products, or for that matter about mass culling and depopulating swine herds in many countries. The virus has not been isolated in any swine herds till date and the pig population is free from it. The strain possess only some characteristics of the swine strain and pork products are safe for human consumption. Pigs only form a common "mixing vessel" for different strains of the influenza virus. Human, avian or swine strains of the influenza virus can infect pigs and with some reassortment within themselves when affecting the same host cell becomes a new strain all by itself having unique features. This leads to what they call the 'antigenic shift' theory of new strain evolution. This is a continous but slow process of evolution and can create any combination of features or characteristics. This makes influenza viruses so dangerous when they make new strains that have totally new characteristics specially when new human strains are created against which we donot have any immunity. This is the underlying cause of the world-wide FLU SCARE. Flu strains are also called by the country of origin, and the recent strain may as well be called as the 'Mexico virus strain', not without given Mexico a bad name. Mexicans protest that the virus came from USA, when Americans have already held 'The Bad Neighbours' (Mexicans) responsible. There has also been talk of Canada being the country for the virus's origin.

So much about the political mudslingings. WHO calls it now the Influenza A (H1N1) virus

Now you might ask who is WHO??