Sally Furniss
Well-known member
PESHAWAR (APP): A draft legislative package was being prepared to allow the technical staff of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (MINFAL) to collect samples of chicks from poultry-farms without seeking permission in order to stop the spread of deadly bird flu virus before its outbreak.
The MINFAL would soon hire the services of legal consultants for preparation of the said draft package, Dr Zaheer Ahmed, Senior Scientific Officer, National Reference Laboratory for the Poultry Diseases National Agriculture Research Centre, Islamabad here Friday.
The Ministries of MINFAL and Heath have jointly organized the seminar, which was attended by large number of people and journalists. The post of legal consultant will be soon advertised in the national press to prepare the document with mutual consultation of all stakeholders including poultry growers to bring the poultry business into mainstream. Under the strategy, he said the owners of poultry-farms would be asked to ensure take bio-security measures, wall around poultry farms and pit etc to further minimize the chances of H5N1 virus.
The MINFAL has developed a quick response mechanism for early disease reporting, up-gradation of laboratory facilities, setting up of disease surveillance and monitoring teams across the country. Similarly, focus are being made on training of farmers, poultry growers and preparation of master trainers to handle the situation in case of the disease outbreak. Active surveillance and monitory system has been established in the commercial poultry hubs of Hazara, Faisalabad and Gattap Karachi, he added. "The bird-flu is not a regional issue but an international which needs joint cooperation among countries to tackle the disease."
Active work on the anti-bird flu program has been further intensified and was extended to district level after H5N1 virus was reported in NWFP in February 2006, he added. To coupe with situation, he said that 11 modern satellite laboratory under a project has been formed for surveillance and tests of the deadly virus. Dr Zaheer informed that NWFP surveillance system is one of the best in the country. He said that a modern and well equipped laboratory in Islamabad and provinces have been setup that has the capacity to confirm report of a suspected bird, chicken or bird-flu suspects within 48 to 72 hours. Dr Zaheer added that 40 new labs for bird-flu tests are being established in various areas of the country and the already existed are being strengthened. The official said that the laboratory are saving money and time as in the past eight to ten days were required for confirmation of virus report as we have to sent it to abroad which is very lengthy and expensive process and a lot of convincing were required. He informed that more than 80,000 samples have been tested and diagnosed so far. "We need consistent support of media to create awareness among people and farmers with regular intervals in fight against deadly communication virus, which has no boundary, geography and border."
Special focus is being made on the surveillance of migratory birds, which is one of the main cause of H1N5, he added. Dr Fawad Khan, Coordinator Avian Influenza WHO-Pakistan said that avian influenza was reported in 22 new countries since February 2007. He said that one case of bird flu was declared positive in Pakistan.
http://www.thefrontierpost.com/News.aspx?ncat=cn&nid=467&ad=08-03-2008
The MINFAL would soon hire the services of legal consultants for preparation of the said draft package, Dr Zaheer Ahmed, Senior Scientific Officer, National Reference Laboratory for the Poultry Diseases National Agriculture Research Centre, Islamabad here Friday.
The Ministries of MINFAL and Heath have jointly organized the seminar, which was attended by large number of people and journalists. The post of legal consultant will be soon advertised in the national press to prepare the document with mutual consultation of all stakeholders including poultry growers to bring the poultry business into mainstream. Under the strategy, he said the owners of poultry-farms would be asked to ensure take bio-security measures, wall around poultry farms and pit etc to further minimize the chances of H5N1 virus.
The MINFAL has developed a quick response mechanism for early disease reporting, up-gradation of laboratory facilities, setting up of disease surveillance and monitoring teams across the country. Similarly, focus are being made on training of farmers, poultry growers and preparation of master trainers to handle the situation in case of the disease outbreak. Active surveillance and monitory system has been established in the commercial poultry hubs of Hazara, Faisalabad and Gattap Karachi, he added. "The bird-flu is not a regional issue but an international which needs joint cooperation among countries to tackle the disease."
Active work on the anti-bird flu program has been further intensified and was extended to district level after H5N1 virus was reported in NWFP in February 2006, he added. To coupe with situation, he said that 11 modern satellite laboratory under a project has been formed for surveillance and tests of the deadly virus. Dr Zaheer informed that NWFP surveillance system is one of the best in the country. He said that a modern and well equipped laboratory in Islamabad and provinces have been setup that has the capacity to confirm report of a suspected bird, chicken or bird-flu suspects within 48 to 72 hours. Dr Zaheer added that 40 new labs for bird-flu tests are being established in various areas of the country and the already existed are being strengthened. The official said that the laboratory are saving money and time as in the past eight to ten days were required for confirmation of virus report as we have to sent it to abroad which is very lengthy and expensive process and a lot of convincing were required. He informed that more than 80,000 samples have been tested and diagnosed so far. "We need consistent support of media to create awareness among people and farmers with regular intervals in fight against deadly communication virus, which has no boundary, geography and border."
Special focus is being made on the surveillance of migratory birds, which is one of the main cause of H1N5, he added. Dr Fawad Khan, Coordinator Avian Influenza WHO-Pakistan said that avian influenza was reported in 22 new countries since February 2007. He said that one case of bird flu was declared positive in Pakistan.
http://www.thefrontierpost.com/News.aspx?ncat=cn&nid=467&ad=08-03-2008