KARACHI, Nov 18: Nature has offered a blanket immunity to a country like Pakistan against Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) as its hot climatic conditions can efficiently combat the virus H5NI, presently registered in East Asia.

The observation was made by Professor of Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Dr Norbert Nowotny, at PMA House here on Friday.

In his presentation, the speaker mentioned that influenza virus are not very resistant to environmental factors, especially heat - which is particularly good for countries, like Pakistan and India.

“Moreover, indirect transmission also does not play a big role in the transmission of influenza virus,” he said.

Dr Nowotny also dispelled the impression regarding chances of viral intrusion through migratory birds, mentioning that the aviation route of these birds entering into Pakistan is mainly North to South, that is, from Central Asia and not East to West.

In his presentation mentioning that HPA1 in poultry could be immediately recognised by the farmers due to high mortality, the scientist said still if by chance infected chicken or and other kinds of poultry is eaten by public, it would not result in the spread of the virus among consumers.

“The virus cannot and will not survive cooking and other preparations.” he said, mentioning that it is also safe to eat well -cooked eggs.

Reiterating that there is no reason to be “panicked”, he clarified that the current bird flu outbreak is a severe bird disease and it cannot be considered yet a human disease, adding that WHO and other international, regional and national health care authorities are closely monitoring the disease.

As for the current H5NI bird flu epidemic, he said it was a severe disease of poultry which has caused a huge agricultural/ veterinary problem with serious economic implications.

“However, it is so far no public health problem,” he said, maintaining that the 126 human cases (Human H5N1 Infections) in Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia, which did cause 64 deaths, were mainly due to intensive direct contact with infected poultry.

“No human to human transmission occurred so far,” Dr Norbert Novotny said.

Answering a question, he said pandemic virus will not develop in Pakistan, but it would be appropriate to create “Avian Departments” within varied veterinary departments to ensure proper surveillance, adding that easy tests are available to identify and verify type of virus and that the samples could also be despatched to WHO laboratories.

“It is always good to have emergency plan and bodies, like Pakistan Medical Association, should take lead replicating several international plans available on internet,” he said answering another query.

The scientist, stressing that panic must not be created, particularly in a country like Pakistan which holds little chance to experience any serious situation, referred to SARS outbreak in China.

The disease was efficiently controlled and ultimately eliminated through joint efforts of Chinese Health Department and International Health Bodies as WHO only during recent past.

“World that has successfully extinguished SARS can be expected to eliminate H5N1 too, “ he hoped.

Earlier, Dr Sirajuddaula introduced the guest speaker. President PMA - Karachi Dr. Haseeb Alam, and General Secretary of the Association Dr. Qaiser Sajjad, also spoke.

The session was attended by local journalists and medical professionals.—APP