Vision

National Prevention Plan

Health Awareness
  • Raising the health awareness of all health staff working in all health sectors, both governmental and private; with the aim to immediately report any suspected cases, in addition to the ways of prevention of the disease.
  • Raising the awareness of the public (both citizens and resident) on the disease, and the ways of prevention.
  • Making clear to the public that the pandemic, when taking place, is very likely to sweep the whole world, and that the human influenza vaccine is not available in adequate quantities, and that there are no specific vaccine for avian influenza so far, and that the preventive medications given to workers (in the field of health, public services, ports, etc.) is the first line of defense.
  • It is of pivotal importance to build confidence between citizens and the competent authorities responsible for distributing information on the disease regularly, through a team of proficient experts in this domain.
  • Precautions recommended for travelers to stricken places:
  1. So far, the WHO has not issued any travel bans to any of the countries affected by (H5N1).
  2. The WHO has not recommended any measures to be applied on those coming from the countries affected by (H5N1).
  3. It is advisable for travelers to see their doctors prior to heading for any of the countries affected by (H5N1). And on arrival, it is advisable to be aware of any health information or instructions concerning the infection, as well as any developments taking place during his stay.
  4. When traveling to any of the countries affected by (H5N1), it is recommended to:
    • Avoid touching any birds or poultry (either live birds or meat), and keep away from their places.
    • Keep away from the places with high infection probability, like poultry farms and bird parks.
    • Avoid touching any of tools of aviculture or poultry transportation or storing, such as bird cages and bird pans.
    • Avoid eating white meat unless very well cooked (considering the virus does not survive 70° C).
    • Wash your hands well, using water and soap.
    • Food Precautions:
      • It is very unlikely for the virus to be transmitted to humans through well-cooked food; that no infections have been recorded to be caused by eating well-cooked poultry.
      • The virus (H5N1) is sensitive to temperature, as it dies at 70° C).
      • Some studies prove that highly pathogenic viruses, including the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) or (H5N1), affect all the parts of the infected birds, including meat. It is for this reason that following the healthy precautions when preparing food, and cooking it well, reduce the likelihood of infection.
      • Eggs have to be well cooked, as some studies have proven that the virus could be carried in the egg shells, as well as the inner contents.
 
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Last Update : 02 September 2012 09:50 AM
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