All preventive measures are being taken to prevent ‘bird flu’ in the city and there is no immediate threat of the virus spreading in the city, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Administrator Muhammad Hussain Syed said on Thursday. He was addressing a meeting regarding avian influenza held with Medical Services Senior Director Dr Nasir Javed Shaikh, World Health Organisation (WHO) representatives, town health officers among other officers. The city administrator said that the KMC gives top priority to maintenance of cleanliness and availability of better healthcare facilities for citizens. “Recently, city-wide fumigation was carried out in Karachi to control the spread of dengue virus and as a result of this, very few cases of dengue fever were reported at hospitals,” he said Speaking on the occasion, Dr Shaikh informed that the WHO had declared Pakistan as ‘bird flu-free area’. “A committee on departmental level has been formed to take preventive measures and immediate action on the report of any avian influenza case in the city,” he added. Suggesting precautionary measures regarding bird flu, the KMC, meanwhile, has advised the people to consume poultry meat and products after proper cooking.
