Plan Approved to Control Avian Flu in Pakistan

According to this report, Joint Secretary and spokesman of the Ministry of Health of Pakistan, Oriya Maqbool Jan Abbasi, has asked the media to play a responsible role while reporting on bird flu. At a press conference, he expressed worry that the media are causing panic among the general public by disseminating wrong information, rather than "spreading authentic information about the issue..." He said that it was very important to create awareness among the masses not to touch or go near dead chickens. He added that eighteen rapid response teams were working across the country to take immediate action when the news about the outbreak of bird flu is confirmed in any part of the country.

While addressing the press conference on government approval of a national plan for prevention and control of avian and pandemic influenza, costing US$5.511 million, the secretary also described pandemic preparations. He said that the government "was fully aware of the myriad dimensions and sequel of influenza pandemic and was closely monitoring the situation in collaboration with national and international partners across the country." A 6-month programme was started in July 2007, triggered by a bird flu outbreak. The recently approved prevention and control plan includes hospital and clinic locations for medical treatment of patients, establishment of a central lab with capacity of analysing up to 50 virology specimens per month, and a network of four provincial public health labs. In addition, anti-viral medicine has been purchased from national manufactures, registered by the Ministry of Health, and 6,000 doses stockpiled.