SUKKUR, Feb 6: Bird flu is caused by a virus which normally does not affect human being and is destroyed at 70 degree centigrade or more. The virus mostly affects domestic pets and wild bird including, chicken, ducks, fowls, and sea fowls. This was said by speakers, including EDO Health Sukkur, Dr Altaf Shaikh, at a seminar here on Wednesday.

They said that the virus is found in migratory birds coming from colder areas to hot waters.

They said death ratio from virus in birds is 100 per cent and in human beings at 55 per cent and added infected birds stop taking feed and water and parts of their body swell and bleed resulting in death. They said the virus spreads from one bird to others through saliva from mouth and nose.

They said the virus also spreads in human beings through saliva and mouth with symptoms like temperature, cough, muscular pain, sore throat and pneumonia.

They advised the people to immediately consult doctor if symptoms are noted.

They urged the people concerned with poultry and other birds business to wear protective clothing at work place and take precautions while shifting birds from one place to other. They added the infected birds should be killed and buried immediately.

They advised vaccination of poultry birds and domestic pets and taking precautionary measures during cooking and asked to cook chicken and eggs at 70 degrees centigrade and avoid taking half fried eggs.

The seminar was aimed at training paramedical staff and health workers. More than 200 paramedics and health workers attended the seminar.

CLASH: Two men were wounded in an armed clash between two groups of villagers over the possession of a fish pond in Dhandh Goth near Pano Akil.