29 January 2004	Thursday	06 Zilhaj 1424

KARACHI, Jan 28: Influenza viruses, including the avian type, are killed at high temperatures, according to the director-general of Sindh's livestock and fisheries department and some veterinarians who talked to Dawn on Wednesday.

A fact-sheet sent to the Federal Health Ministry from the office of the WHO's representative to Pakistan mentioned this. And the website of the World Health Organization too said: "It is well known that influenza viruses are killed by adequate heat".

It follows then that chicken meat and egg if deep fried long enough or cooked in water or oil for about 10 minutes should be suitable for consumption. Meat or egg should not be used when rare done or barbecued not well enough, however.

Meanwhile, a person may get infected with avian influenza, which has hit more than 10 countries of Asia since mid-December, if he comes in contact with a live diseased chicken, WHO says.

It is important, therefore, that people avoid handling all live poultry birds. The sale of live chickens at markets which are frequented by people should also be discouraged for the same reason, says WHO.

A data-sheet posted on the WHO's website says that all birds are "thought to be susceptible to infection with avian influenza", known commonly as 'bird flu'. No evidence of person-to-person transmission of the disease has been reported, though.

According to the WHO, the diseased birds can shed a large amount of virus responsible for their condition in their faeces. It is vital, therefore, that hygienic conditions are maintained in poultry markets and farms. The virus can survive for long periods, especially when the temperatures are low.

Occupational exposure can occur among poultry workers, who are advised to take all necessary precautions. A human who gets infected with 'bird flu' will have fever, sore throat, and in several of the fatal cases, respiratory distress.

WHO ADVICE: Dr Khalif Bile Mohammad, the representative of World Health Organization to Pakistan, has asked the Pakistani authorities to set up a national mechanism for reporting of unusual deaths in animals related to avian influenza.

According to a well-placed source, the WHO's man in Pakistan has also urged the revival of the National Task Force for Infectious Diseases Control. The task force was established by the federal Ministry of Health in 2003 but is lying dormant since more than four months. The National Institute of Health (NIH) had been nominated as the secretariat for the task force.

It would be appropriate for the country to engage the task force in prevention of diseases, preparedness and response and to coordinate the ministry's activities in these areas at the national and international levels, according to the WHO representative.

The source said the WHO had called for a detailed consultation between experts from ministry of health and ministry of food, agriculture and livestock to establish strong surveillance systems and to create a coordination mechanism to closely monitor the recommendations of this team at the operational level.

The health authorities were asked to introduce stringent hygienic conditions during handling poultry products in all commercial farms. They were also urged to effectively monitor the surveillance systems in poultry farms and in human beings, using the hospital-based Disease Early Warning System and applying the WHO and FAO guidelines. The Pakistani authorities were also asked to depute a national scientist to work with the WHO.