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He also said that the government has developed its own lab to deal with the flu if it transmits to human body. According to Dr Banarjee the people if get infected will develop sever fever and respiratory problem. However, only the people who have come in contact to the dead chickens, those who come in contact to the people who died of sever pneumonia in the area in recent days would come to the risk group. Chickens dropping transmits virus to human.
The ministry has also prepared a medical team to carry out regular medical examination of 65 people who will tackle with the chickens in the affected area. "All the health workers in the area have been trained about the flu," he said.
At present the Ministry of Health and Population will use B. P. Koirala Health Sciences as referral hospital in Eastern region, while Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu will be the referral hospital in Kathmandu.
Dr Banarjee also said that about 260 people in 14 countries in the world have died of the infection.
Participants at the program were served with the chickens.
According to World Health Organization Avian influenza is an infectious disease of birds caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. The disease occurs worldwide. While all birds are thought to be susceptible to infection with avian influenza viruses, many wild bird species carry these viruses with no apparent signs of harm.
WHO website further says the outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza that began in south-east Asia in mid-2003 and have now spread to a few parts of Europe, are the largest and most severe on record. To date, nine Asian countries have reported outbreaks (listed in order of reporting): the Republic of Korea, Viet Nam, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Indonesia, China, and Malaysia.
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