KARACHI, Jan 17: Poultry farmers are now bringing 'layer birds' from Punjab to meet the consumers' demand following the destruction of a large number of chickens as a result of an outbreak of the avian influenza disease. Eggs are also being brought in.

The Karachi Wholesale Poultry Association (KWPA) has again come out with a statement that only 'layer birds' have so far fallen victim to the disease. "The broiler birds are still safe from any disease and (are) fit for human consumption," it says.

General-Secretary of the KWPA, Kamal Akhtar Siddiqui, said 90 per cent of the city's population consumed broiler birds. The rest was being consumed by the people who lacked liquidity to buy the costlier bird.

Broiler meat was heavily consumed by households, hotels and in wedding and valima receptions. He claimed that various poultry scientists from all over the country and poultry farmers had discussed the outbreak of the disease and its impact on egg at various forums during the last two days.

It was concluded that the poultry disease was not transferable to the egg. "Egg is safe right now," Mr Siddiqui said.

Poultry farms had been witnessing the outbreak of the disease for the last one month. He said poultry farmers had definitely controlled the situation through proper and timely vaccination.

Farmers had also monitored effectively the sale of dead or infected layer birds in the city, otherwise various casualties would have been reported by now.

Karachi consumes around 300,000 to 350,000 poultry birds (layer and broiler combined) every day. He said effective measures and proper vaccination had helped in controlling further outbreak of disease which had already caused mortality of over 3.5 million layer birds at the poultry farms.

"Hardly five to 10 per cent disease still exists at various poultry farms. The disease will disappear within the next 10 to 15 days through effective vaccination and change of weather."

A poultry scientist, Dr Jamil Ahmed, said hardly 10 per cent of the diseased birds existed at some poultry farms as proper vaccination had saved the flocks from further destruction. He said the intensity of the disease had not been recorded fully at all the 80 to 90 farms in Karachi and its adjacent areas.

He also claimed that egg was safe as the disease could not be transferred to it.

"The virus automatically is killed at 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Besides, many viruses and diseases are also killed during boiling."

He said infected layer birds were being burnt and converted into ashes in order to prevent the disease from spreading to other farms. The illegal practice of selling the meat of dead birds was also being checked.