Wash hands for 20 seconds to avoid the virus: experts

Winter is the peak time for bird flu in Asian countries, doctors encourage prevention.

KARACHI: Winter is the peak time for bird flu in Asian countries and doctors advise people to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds after making contact with an animal.

Infection Control Society Pakistan president Dr Hasan Nawab, who is a specialist in blood conditions, said that the virus spreads mainly because people involved in the poultry business do not have enough information on the H5N1 virus.

“You can detect bird flu if the chicken becomes weak, stops laying eggs and water starts dripping from its beak,” he pointed out.

“In this case, the animal will die within five to eight days and whoever eats the meat of a sick animal can also contract the virus.”

Sindh Health Minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed stressed that there are hardly any cases of bird flu in the country. “We arrange awareness sessions on bird flu frequently so that people know how to avoid the virus,” he said.

According to the World Health Organisation, a total of 32 people from around the world died from bird flu last year. Dr Nawab added, however, that so far there has never been a case in Pakistan where the virus was transferred from the animal to a human.

Poultry should be included in rehabilitation plan

The livestock and poultry sectors should be included in the government’s rehabilitation plan for the flood-affected areas, said representatives of small growers and civil society.

Potohar Organisation for Development Advocacy project coordinator Irfan Ali Junejo held a press conference on Wednesday to convey these demands.

According to the organisation’s estimates, the floods hit 32,000 villages in Sindh, while 3.5 million acres of agricultural land and 1.1 million houses were also destroyed. The death toll of livestock was around 500,000, he said.

A large number of growers, who had taken loans before the floods, will not be able to pay them back so they should be waived, Junejo said.

He demanded the government included representatives of flood survivors when formulating rehabilitation plans. APP

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25^th, 2010.