Present outbreak of bird flu in the country is Avian Influenza of H-7 and H-9 type which is neither harmful to human health nor has any resemblance with the pernicious bird flu of type N1 and H5.
Convener Press and Public Relation Committee, Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA), Abdul Maroof Siddiqui stated this while addressing a press conference on Saturday.
He said that inappropriate projection of Avian Influenza as harmful bird flu from media has caused havoc in poultry industry of the country, and as such there is a dire need to rectify the misconception.
He explained that Avian Influenza (bird flu) caused by H-7 and H-9 strain of virus is species specific and is, therefore, not communicable to human beings. Therefore, the present outbreak of bird flu in the country has no importance.
He further maintained that even if meat of chicken affected with bird flu was consumed accidentally, it would not pose any human health hazard.
The bird flu virus is killed when subjected to heat treatment at high temperature and is confined only to layer flocks, he elaborated.
He pointed out that when the problem was reported in Karachi at initial stage a team of experts from Veterinary Research Institute, Lahore visited Karachi and carried out investigations.
The team identified that the virus is of H-7 and H-9 type and advised oil-based killed vaccine of type H-7 and H-9 in the affected areas only and emphasised on strict bio-security measures in the city.
Moreover, he referred to Sindh Poultry Vaccine Center's research report which concluded that the antisera of H5N9 was negative with the two local virus isolates, ie, H7 and H9, confirming the association of acute clinical disease in chickens with H7 sub-type, rather than with type N1 and H5.
He further presented the result of K & Ns Poultry Disease Diagnostic & Research Institute's test report which confirms that samples of infected and post-infected birds indicated the involvement of H7 type which has no direct danger to human beings.
MNA Mohammad Hussain Mehnati, founding chairman, PPA, Khalil Sattar and convener, disease control committee, PPA, Dr Zafar-ul-Islam Siddiqui were also present on the occasion.
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