February 4, 2008

Pakistan to regulate poultry industry in a bid to control bird flu
 

Pakistan plans to regulate the country's poultry industry to control the spread of bird flu after new cases are reported from Karachi, prompting the government to cull poultry at the affected farm.
 

Pakistan newspaper Dawn Sunday reported that experts believe that the major reason behind the outbreaks is the unregulated poultry sector, where workers seldom care about protective measures.

Animal Husbandry commissioner Rafiqul Hassan Usmani said the government has been maintaining a policy that allows the establishment of a farm with only a permit from the environment ministry.

However, the frequent bird flu outbreaks have made the government backtrack and consider the registration of poultry farms.

About 5,500 chickens have died from H5N1 in Karachi over the past week, and at the report of a new case at a poultry farm, teams were sent on Friday (February 1, 2008) to cull the farm's remaining birds.

There are several other poultry farms in the area but health and veterinary officials said they were tested negative so far.

Usmani said they have the resources available to battle the problem but the farmers have to do their duty by reporting bird flu cases.

Authorities issued safety guidelines for handling and consumption of poultry products and meat while poultry farms owners are also told to take precautions, including the provision of gloves and regular health check-ups for the workers.

Pakistan's poultry industry comprises about 26,000 farms.