February 05, 2008	Tuesday	Muharram 26, 1429

KHAIRPUR, Feb 4: Confirmation of bird flu’s presence in some poultry farms in Karachi has adversely affected poultry business in Khairpur and other parts of northern Sindh.

There are more than 700 poultry farms in the Khairpur district and the people involved in this business are worried after an outbreak of the virus in the province.A sharp decline in the sale of chicken and eggs was reported in Khairpur on Monday and chicken meat prices moved down from Rs120 to Rs80 per kilo. Prices of vegetable registered an increase in the district.

District officer (poultry) Dr Inayat Ali Otho told reporters that there were no reports of bird flu’s presence in Khairpur. However, he said, samples from 15 poultry farms had been collected and would be sent to Karachi for test.

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE: Taluka hospitals in Thatta have established five 4-bed isolation wards as a precautionary measure for tackling any probable situation following an outbreak of bird flu virus.