HYDERABAD, Feb 12: The Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences on Thursday organized a seminar on the bird flu under the aegis of department of medicine and allied sciences.

The vice-chancellor Professor Jan Mohammad Memon presided over the seminar which was aimed at creating awareness about the disease. A large number of people including consultants, doctors, postgraduate and under-graduate students attended the seminar.

Mr Memon advised poultry farmers to strictly monitor their farms on scientific basis and to get their birds vaccinated against the bird flu. He urged the health authorities to remain vigilant.

Dean of the faculty of medicine, Professor Allah Bachayo Memon, gave a clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment and preventive measures. He said so far no human-to-human transmission had been reported.

He said symptoms of disease in chicken included fever, loss of appetite, swelling of head and neck and bleeding. Mr Memon said symptoms in human being included cough, running nose, fever, muscle ache, congestion of eyes.

Dr Memon cautioned that the main danger from disease was extension of infection to lungs which leads to pneumonia. He made it clear that there was no danger from eating cooked poultry meat and eggs but added that the problem arose during handling birds and their meat before cooking.

He advised wearing of gloves, mask and gowns while handling the birds. Professor Latif Soomro and Professor Rafique Soomro also spoke on the occasion.