February 02, 2008	Saturday	Muharram 23, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Feb 1: The epidemiological response team of the National Institute of Health (NIH) will arrive in Karachi on Saturday to assess the situation in Sindh after the National Agriculture Research Centre (NARC) confirmed the presence of the H5N1 strain of bird flu virus in a poultry farm in the provincial capital.

“The National Reference Laboratory (animal testing) at NARC has confirmed the presence of the virus in one of the farms, while the report of the second farm is expected tomorrow,” an official said, adding that the NIH team was being sent to Karachi for assessing the situation and providing technical assistance to the provincial government.

The outbreak, which has occurred after a long break in Sindh, is the first of this year.

Last year was worse with 79 Avian flu outbreaks and some human casualties.

Most of the incidents had occurred in northern parts of the country in poultry farms in and around Mansehra, Abbotabad and Murree.

Severe cold in the areas is considered to be the main reason behind the relief in the region.

This year, however, experts fear that the infection may return to the region by end of the current month or early next month.

A senior NIH official said the Karachi outbreak reflected the vulnerability of poultry farms and the backyard poultry.

He called for strengthening bio-safety and bio-security to check the spread of the virus.