MALAYSIA: Prepares worst-case scenario

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   Bird Flu Update: Govt preparing for worst-case scenario

PUTRAJAYA: MALYASIA - �Friday, March 24 2006, 08:58:12 AM

Health and agriculture authorities are drafting a national bird flu epidemic plan in the event the H5N1 virus becomes widespread.

The virus, which has so far emerged in isolated areas of Perak, Gombak and Penang, will pose a different scenario if it spreads and affects places close to each other.

Such an epidemic would strain manpower and equipment resources to cull birds, monitor public health and test virus samples over a wider area, warned Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

He said the draft plan to address the deployment of resources in an epidemic would be ready in a week.

The previous plan released by the two ministries was on handling an outbreak in an isolated area. It involved culling birds in the index area and active health surveillance of people living within a 300m radius of the index area.

"At the moment, there is no epidemic as the virus is only in a few places, but we have to plan early for the worst-case scenario," Muhyiddin said yesterday at a joint Press conference with Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek.

The ministers said the current situation was manageable for their officials to conduct health surveillance and to cull birds.

"But if every State has three or four affected areas, it will be a different scenario," Dr Chua said. "How would we cope with culling and surveillance in so many areas at once?"

The Veterinary Research Institute laboratory, where samples are tested for the virus, is at the moment able to produce results within three or four days. Muhyiddin said a plan was necessary to ensure the laboratory performed speedily with an even higher number of samples in an epidemic.

The bird flu virus appeared earlier this week in three new places in Perak. Dr Chua said there had been no human infections so far

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Friday/National/20060324080917/Article/index_html

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Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: MALAYSIA: Prepares worst-case scenario Posted: March 23 2006 at 4:55pm
	Bird Flu Update: Govt preparing for worst-case scenario PUTRAJAYA: MALYASIA - �Friday, March 24 2006, 08:58:12 AM Health and agriculture authorities are drafting a national bird flu epidemic plan in the event the H5N1 virus becomes widespread. The virus, which has so far emerged in isolated areas of Perak, Gombak and Penang, will pose a different scenario if it spreads and affects places close to each other. Such an epidemic would strain manpower and equipment resources to cull birds, monitor public health and test virus samples over a wider area, warned Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. He said the draft plan to address the deployment of resources in an epidemic would be ready in a week. The previous plan released by the two ministries was on handling an outbreak in an isolated area. It involved culling birds in the index area and active health surveillance of people living within a 300m radius of the index area. "At the moment, there is no epidemic as the virus is only in a few places, but we have to plan early for the worst-case scenario," Muhyiddin said yesterday at a joint Press conference with Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek. The ministers said the current situation was manageable for their officials to conduct health surveillance and to cull birds. "But if every State has three or four affected areas, it will be a different scenario," Dr Chua said. "How would we cope with culling and surveillance in so many areas at once?" The Veterinary Research Institute laboratory, where samples are tested for the virus, is at the moment able to produce results within three or four days. Muhyiddin said a plan was necessary to ensure the laboratory performed speedily with an even higher number of samples in an epidemic. The bird flu virus appeared earlier this week in three new places in Perak. Dr Chua said there had been no human infections so far http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Friday/National/20060324080917/Article/index_html