ISLAMABAD, Oct 18: Pakistan has been on alert to meet the challenge of virus H5NI (avian influenza), says federal secretary MINFAL.

A high-level meeting was held under the chairmanship of secretary MINFAL, Ismail Qureshi, to review the current status of avian influenza and take further necessary steps.

The meeting was informed that Pakistan has developed a national avian influenza surveillance system with the assistance of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The system includes a central avian influenza laboratory which is linked with other similar laboratories throughout the country. During the last one year more than 17,200 blood samples, 14,850 swabs and 150 tissue samples have been collected and processed in these laboratories. So far, only the H-7 type of virus has been reported in Pakistan.

—Online