Experts has called for enhancement of bio-security and bio-safety practices in NWFP through legislation and hiring a legal consultant from National Program in this regard for the control and prevention of Bird Flue Project in the province.
The call was made in a one-day seminar on Avian Influenza held at Veterinary Research Institute (VRI) Peshawar, the other day. NWFP Minister for Livestock, Haji Hidayatullah was chief guest while Secretary to NWFP government on Agriculture, Livestock and Co-operatives, Attaullah Khan and other experts from health and a livestock sectors, was also present.
The seminar was held in three sessions. In first session, Director VRI, Dr Nasir Hussein Shah briefed the participants and experts on the purposes and objectives of the institute and different ongoing projects in it. The experts on health and livestock presented their research papers on the deadly disease of the bird flu, causes, prevention and its treatment. The Director, Health Fazal Qayyum and Deputy Director, Public Health, Mohammad Zaheen gave presentations on the signs and causes of the bird flu in patients.
Dr Professor Munir Akram and Dr Ayaz presented their thesis on migratory birds and transfer of the virus in them and proved it that how the virus transfer from migratory birds to chicks and then to humans.
After detailed debate and discussion the participants of the seminar called for provision of assistance to NWFP Wildlife Department in conducting surveys, research on migratory birds and capacity building of the staff.
It called for strengthening the disease surveillance system for early detection and reporting of avian influenza, inter-departmental coordination among health, livestock and wildlife departments.
The recommendations were also included control over the movement of the affected flocks, regularisation of the live bird market practices, rapid destruction of the infected poultry and proper disposal of the carcasses.
They stressed the capacity building of the laboratory staff and upgradation of diagnostic service in livestock and health sectors and practising proper use of vaccination and research & development for quicker diagnoses and development of effective vaccine.
For enhancement of the bio-security and bio-safety, the experts also called for inclusion of VRI, Peshawar and its allied regional laboratories at D I Khan, Kohat, and Swat in the national surveillance network.
They also recommended the promotion of coordination between public and private sectors at all levels and inclusion of a private sector representative on the provincial technical sub-committee on the avian influenza. Taking the department of wildlife on board in all national surveillance network and up gradation of vaccine production facility at VRI Peshawar.