Roadshow On Dangers Of Bird Flu
By Sonia K.

Bandar Seri Begawan - A two-day roadshow yesterday opened to warn of the dangers of bird flu and to raise public understanding of the functions of Health Centres as well as Accident and Emergency Services.

Some 250 government officers and staff attended the roadshow which is being held by the Ministry of Health with the cooperation of the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources.

The roadshow which is being held at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources included a talk on bird flu and the influenza pandemic.

Among the activities are talks by officers from the Accident and Emergency Services, RIPAS Hospital and the Department of Health Services as well as activities such as heath check-ups, BMI examination, blood donation, a cervical cancer talk, breast self-examination demonstration and health exhibitions.

Yesterday, the officers and staff heard talks on `Accident and Emergency Services' delivered by Dr Haji Kartono Ibnu, `Health Centre Services' presented by Dr Haji Zulhilmi bin POKHP Dato Paduka Haji Abdullah, and `Bird Flu Disease and the Influenza Pandemic' by Dr Roslina binti Haji Metussin.

In her talk, Dr Roslina stressed the risks and signs of catching the flu, ways of prevention, the increase in infections and deaths caused by bird flu and influenza as well as the Department of Health's pandemic plan.

The speaker noted that the people who are at risk of catching the bird flu virus are

those who are directly exposed to infected birds such as those staying near farms where chickens, ducks and other birds and poultry are reared, workers of poultry farms, slaughter-houses and poultry markets, those involved in inspecting poultry farms for chicken, ducks and birds as well as the general public who rear chickens and other birds.

The officers and staff were 'advised to observe their personal hygiene when handling chickens and birds and to keep their surroundings such as slaughter-houses and poultry markets clean as ways to avoid the disease.

Meanwhile, the public is urged to report immediately any case of birds dying suddenly under dubious circumstances to the Agriculture Department on Avian Flu Hotlines 8984777 or 8985777, RTB reported last night.  -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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