Doha: The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) said no cases of bird flu were registered in the State of Qatar. The ministry said the disease is closely and continuously monitored by the National Influenza Center, which periodically scans samples to examine the types of viruses that are spread and to detect their strains and epidemiological patterns.
Through the food safety and environmental health departments of MoPH, an update follow up is held on epidemiological situation of animal health in all countries in cooperation with the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, and through the certified animal disease surveillance network. It is also issuing a list banning the importation of any foodstuffs from infected areas including bird flu.
As reported by specialized entity at the Ministry, the poultry sector is free from high intensity bird flu, as periodic surveys are carried out, proving safe from bird flu. In addition to careful monitoring of border crossings and sampling for analysis to verify its safety. It is noted that if there is a disease of this kind, the importation of food shipments from affected countries is automatically prohibited until they are confirmed to be free from diseases or infectious viruses, for the situation to go back to normal.
MoPH called for need to be accurate and obtain correct information from its official sources, where the ministry is committed to the principle of transparency and takes necessary measures when registering any disease that poses threat to public health.
