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Venezuelan govt announces
anti-bird flu plan
The Venezuelan government on
Monday announced a national plan
to battle possible outbreaks of
bird flu.
The plan was drawn up by the
Health Ministry in line with
World Health Organization's
guidelines, Colonel Antonio
Rivero, director of civil
protection department said.
According to the plan, Venezuela
has prepared for two scenarios:
one involving outbreaks only
among birds, and the other when
humans are also hit by the
disease.
The measures include
surveillance of poultry farms,
farm workers, domestic and wild
birds, and identification of
high-risk areas like zoos and
stopping points of migratory
birds.
Intensified restriction on
poultry imports and strict
inspection at ports and airports
may be applied if necessary.
A network for hospitals to
report respiratory illnesses and
controls to prevent panic buying
of anti-flu drugs has already
been set up under the plan,
Rivero told Venezuela's
television channel Glob vision.
Venezuela is now ready to face
any possible outbreak of bird
flu, he added.
The deadly H5N1 strain has
killed more than 90 people
worldwide since 2003, most of
them in Asia.
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