20 October 2005
AJMAN/ABU DHABI -- The Department of Ajman Municipality and Planning has taken all steps to protect the emirate and the country from bird flu by ensuring strict supervision at Ajman sea port and warning the public against hunting migrant birds, Shaikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Department, said yesterday.
The measures were initiated following instructions from Shaikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Supreme Committee on Prevention of Bird Flu (Avian Influenza).
In Abu Dhabi, Saeed Mohammed Al Raghabani, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, asserted that the situation in the country was well under control, with veterinary quarantines on red alert and thorough inspection of incoming consignments.
He said there was good cooperation among all the departments concerned and that there was transparency in the measures being taken.
Meanwhile, Shaikh Rashid, addressing a news conference in Ajman, said that following the World Health Organisation's (WHO) warnings that the world was faced with grave danger of bird flu pandemic, a committee was formed by the department to keep tabs on possible outbreak of bird flu besides coordinating with Abu Dhabi Supreme Committee.
The committee will report the measures taken by it to prevent and protect the spread of the disease to the municipality and the Supreme Committee, which has supplied the department with equipment and manpower to carry out its mission. The committee's responsibilities also includes supervision of bird consignments entry into the emirate through Ajman sea port to ensure the safety of the people.
He said a special team from the Health Section was formed to receive calls from the public reporting any case of bird flu outbreak in the emirate or bringing any birds infected with any disease. The team would also be responsible for the inspection and supervision of poultry farms and other outlets in the emirates.
Informative programmes on the symptoms of the disease, protection and ways of treatment was also organised by the department to educate poultry farms owners and workers. The Department is also distributing pamphlets in English and Arabic among the public to educate them about the disease.
Stressing on the importance of tightening restrictions on the entry of any kind of bird through the ports of the country, Shaikh Rashid urged the quarantine section at these ports to cooperate with municipalities and health departments to prevent the entry of the disease into the country by intensifying supervision of imported poultry.
Meanwhile, the resident representative of the United Nations, told Khaleej Times that UN agencies including the World Health Organisation and Food and Agriculture Organisation were working together to contain and fight possible bird flu pandemic.
Measures recommended by FAO regarding vigilance on bird migration, poultry farms, rapid diagnosis of the ailment in case it breaks out as well as the presence of well-equipped and highly efficient laboratories and availability of medicines had been implemented in the country, he said.
The resident representative said the FAO, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, would bring in the chief expert of the organisation to give his views on the measures taken by the UAE to prevent the bird flu from breaking out in the country.
The FAO chief expert had earlier led the action plan in Thailand and Indonesia. Joseph Dominique, the Chief Veterinary Officer on bird flu control in the FAO has called on countries to get rid of the atmosphere of fear which prevailed in many countries.
The disease has been, so far, limited to birds and chickens, and had not reached the level of an epidemic which could infect human beings, Dominique said.
The medicines available at present do not provide full protection, and hence, sufficient precautionary measures should be taken, he added.
WHAT YOU MUST KNOW
What is the bird flu disease?
A: Bird flu is a disease which affects birds as a result of infection with a type of virus known as A (H5N1). Birds are the major carriers of this type of virus, hence the name bird flu.
What are the symptoms of bird flu on human beings?
A: The symptoms are similar to those of human flu, including high body temperature, coughing, sore throat and body pains. It can develop to affect the respiration system causing severe lung inflammation and other complications that can be dangerous to health. The symptoms differ according to the ferocity of the virus that causes the influenza.
What are the chances of human beings being infected with the bird flu virus?
A: It is very rare for humans to be infected with the virus. This is because the virus is transmitted mostly among birds, but the chance of humans being infected with the virus grows bigger when the infection reaches a pandemic level as is the case now in many parts of the world, particularly those whose work necessitate making contact with poultry or being exposed to bird secretions.
How is bird flu infection treated medically?
A: There are a number of anti bird flu virus drugs. But using these drugs haphazardly can lead to the boosting of the virus' immunity to the drugs, making the drugs ineffective. Currently two major drugs are being used to treat the virus. They are Tamiflu and Relenza. Whatever the case, this medicine must be taken at the early stage of the infection, soon after the symptoms are noticed.
Is there any vaccine to protect people from bird flu infection?
A: There is no effective vaccine against the A (H5N1) virus which is currently wide spread, but a number of international research centres have been busy since April 2005 trying to come up with such vaccine.
By Afkar Abdullah and Attif Hanafi
© Khaleej Times 2005
