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Abu Dhabi: Entry points into the country need to be better sealed to prevent a bird flu outbreak, said a senior official on Tuesday.
Speaking to Gulf News following a meeting of the members of the National Committee for Emergency Response to Bird Flu, Majid Al Mansouri, the Secretary General of Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD) and the Head of the National Committee said: "There are 19 entry points into the country. These need to be sealed off to ensure bird flu does not enter. A report prepared by the EAD has been submitted to a committee at the Ministry of Interior. This committee, under the supervision of Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Interior Minister, will study our recommendations and take necessary action."
"Though measures to inspect food items at entry points are in place now, there are loopholes that need to be addressed," he said.
From 2003 to 2007, 216 people died of bird flu according to official statistics. The total number of human cases of bird flu during that period was 348. Since bird flu outbreaks have been reported in nearby Arab countries including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, the UAE needs to exercise caution, said Al Mansouri.
At the meeting, the members of the committee reviewed recent developments worldwide. Around the world, 33 countries have reported bird flu outbreaks so far.
The report on the assessment of the border points was prepared according to the instructions of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the National Committee for Emergency Response to Bird Flu.
The committee recommended the development of a strategy on biosafety and biosecurity and the identification of border points through which livestock and poultry products could be brought into the country.
Al Mansouri also said that it is essential to recruit and train staff to deal with emergency situations. Within the framework of the committee, a budget has been allocated to recruit 40 people to work at border points.
In addition to developing a standard procedure for screening of food products, penalties for violators was also discussed. Al Mansouri praised a resolution issued by the Interior Minister to form a permanent group to monitor pandemics.
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