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Editor-in-Chief & President
NHA to hold bird flu outbreak drill
Web posted at: 4/8/2008 2:37:50
Source ::: The Peninsula
<table align="right" bgcolor="#e9e9e9" width="10%"><tbody><tr><td>
</td></tr><tr><td align="center">Dr Gail Chanpong, director, Department of Public Health at NHA, speaking at the workshop on avian flu yesterday. (SALIM MATRAMKOT)</td></tr></tbody></table> DOHA • The National Health Authority (NHA), in collaboration with other departments concerned will soon hold a drill to test the country's preparedness for any possible outbreak of avian flu in the country, a senior NHA official said yesterday.
The Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar Petroleum, the Ministry of Interior and several other departments will take part in the drill, which would take place in a few weeks, Dr Gail Chanpong, director, Department of Public Health at NHA told The Peninsula yesterday
She was speaking on the sidelines of a workshop on avian flu organised by the NHA at the Four Seasons Hotel yesterday. The workshop, attended by a number of doctors, nurses and other health care professionals from the private sector was part of an awareness campaign being waged by NHA against avian flu.
Chanpong said Qatar was far ahead of other GCC countries in its preparedness against avian flu. The country has so far remained safe from the deadly virus.
"We are closely monitoring the situation all over the world and we are ready to face any possible threat from the disease," said Chanpong. The NHA was quick to act by banning the import of live birds and poultry products from all countries affected by the virus.
Addressing the workshop yesterday, Dr Ravinder Mamtani, an expert from the Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar said the possibility of an avian flu pandemic in the world has increased with more cases of the disease being reported among humans, birds and animals in various parts of the world.
The chances of human-to-human spread is rare and if at all it occurs, it does not go beyond one person. However, the fact that human-to-human transmission has occurred is alarming, said Mamtani. Human exposure to the disease is broadening and risk of transmission from poultry to humans has been increasing.
More cases are being detected in birds while animals like cats and tigers, which were believed to be safe from the virus are being affected. Many countries are not prepared for a possible pandemic and the early warning system in those countries are very weak, added Mamtani.
A vaccine has already been developed for the disease, but it must match the new virus that would emerge during a pandemic.
http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Di...th=April2008&file=Local_News2008040823750.xml
Web posted at: 4/8/2008 2:37:50
Source ::: The Peninsula
<table align="right" bgcolor="#e9e9e9" width="10%"><tbody><tr><td>
The Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar Petroleum, the Ministry of Interior and several other departments will take part in the drill, which would take place in a few weeks, Dr Gail Chanpong, director, Department of Public Health at NHA told The Peninsula yesterday
She was speaking on the sidelines of a workshop on avian flu organised by the NHA at the Four Seasons Hotel yesterday. The workshop, attended by a number of doctors, nurses and other health care professionals from the private sector was part of an awareness campaign being waged by NHA against avian flu.
Chanpong said Qatar was far ahead of other GCC countries in its preparedness against avian flu. The country has so far remained safe from the deadly virus.
"We are closely monitoring the situation all over the world and we are ready to face any possible threat from the disease," said Chanpong. The NHA was quick to act by banning the import of live birds and poultry products from all countries affected by the virus.
Addressing the workshop yesterday, Dr Ravinder Mamtani, an expert from the Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar said the possibility of an avian flu pandemic in the world has increased with more cases of the disease being reported among humans, birds and animals in various parts of the world.
The chances of human-to-human spread is rare and if at all it occurs, it does not go beyond one person. However, the fact that human-to-human transmission has occurred is alarming, said Mamtani. Human exposure to the disease is broadening and risk of transmission from poultry to humans has been increasing.
More cases are being detected in birds while animals like cats and tigers, which were believed to be safe from the virus are being affected. Many countries are not prepared for a possible pandemic and the early warning system in those countries are very weak, added Mamtani.
A vaccine has already been developed for the disease, but it must match the new virus that would emerge during a pandemic.
http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Di...th=April2008&file=Local_News2008040823750.xml