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Strict precautionary measures against bird flu at check-points
By Latifa Jaber
24 August 2008
ABU DHABI - Strict precautionary measures have been taken by the National Committee for Emergency Response to the Bird Flu to prevent any outbreak of the avian influenza in the country.
The watchdog panel has intensified surveillance at the border check-points, airports and sea beaches to ensure that birds entering the country are not infected with the deadly H5N1 virus.
The affiliated technical teams, from the beginning of next month, will intensify field surveys on the UAE coastlines, islands and other locations to monitor birds, and take random samples for testing.
The measures will coincide with the beginning of the season of birds?migration from the North to the South.
Migratory birds often arrive in different parts of the country during September every year.
All the organisations concerned have underlined their keenness to ensure precautionary measures the Committee has proposed in this context.
Salem Issa, Deputy Director if Al Sila Customs Department, said there were strict instructions not to allow the entry of any birds, live or frozen, at UAE borders without the approval of the inspectors of the environment Agency and the Food Control Authority, who examine the consignments to ensure they are safe, free of any contagious diseases, and fit for human consumption.
The authorities at all airports are also required to take same measures. The test of all samples collected from different parts in the country in the past has shown that the UAE is free of any suspected case, he recalled.
The in charge of veterinary medicine in Madinat Zayed has said that poultry and birds in farms in the city were put under surveillance, and the teams concerned swing into action once they were tipped off on dead birds on the suspicion of being infected with the avian influenza.
All lab tests made proved that the birds were not infected, he said.
Due to the likely chance of transmission of the flu by the migratory birds, precautionary measures at all entry points and other sites will continue unabated, according to sources at the secretariat of the committee.
The approved programme for examining wild birds and domestic poultry in agricultural areas and bird shops as well as in residential areas is a periodic one, and is carried out by the veterinary teams in the country.
The programme for observing and watching the wild and migratory birds is conducted through special devices which cover 25 sq km along the country?s coast, he added.
Strict precautionary measures against bird flu at check-points
By Latifa Jaber
24 August 2008
ABU DHABI - Strict precautionary measures have been taken by the National Committee for Emergency Response to the Bird Flu to prevent any outbreak of the avian influenza in the country.
The watchdog panel has intensified surveillance at the border check-points, airports and sea beaches to ensure that birds entering the country are not infected with the deadly H5N1 virus.
The affiliated technical teams, from the beginning of next month, will intensify field surveys on the UAE coastlines, islands and other locations to monitor birds, and take random samples for testing.
The measures will coincide with the beginning of the season of birds?migration from the North to the South.
Migratory birds often arrive in different parts of the country during September every year.
All the organisations concerned have underlined their keenness to ensure precautionary measures the Committee has proposed in this context.
Salem Issa, Deputy Director if Al Sila Customs Department, said there were strict instructions not to allow the entry of any birds, live or frozen, at UAE borders without the approval of the inspectors of the environment Agency and the Food Control Authority, who examine the consignments to ensure they are safe, free of any contagious diseases, and fit for human consumption.
The authorities at all airports are also required to take same measures. The test of all samples collected from different parts in the country in the past has shown that the UAE is free of any suspected case, he recalled.
The in charge of veterinary medicine in Madinat Zayed has said that poultry and birds in farms in the city were put under surveillance, and the teams concerned swing into action once they were tipped off on dead birds on the suspicion of being infected with the avian influenza.
All lab tests made proved that the birds were not infected, he said.
Due to the likely chance of transmission of the flu by the migratory birds, precautionary measures at all entry points and other sites will continue unabated, according to sources at the secretariat of the committee.
The approved programme for examining wild birds and domestic poultry in agricultural areas and bird shops as well as in residential areas is a periodic one, and is carried out by the veterinary teams in the country.
The programme for observing and watching the wild and migratory birds is conducted through special devices which cover 25 sq km along the country?s coast, he added.