A coordination meeting on prevention of human infection of birdflu at border areas was held at the meeting hall of Nay Pyi Taw Pyinmana General Hospital (200-bed) on 15^th December.

At the meeting, Deputy Minister Dr. Mya Oo delivered an address saying that, at present altogether 61 countries are being struck by an outbreak of bird flu, adding that over 300 people in 12 nations were infected with the zoonosis, leaving over 200 people dead.

Priority is to be given to the prevention of bird flu virus strain as mortality rate is much higher than that caused by SARS. The government has been implementing plans for control of avian influenza and human influenza since 2004, and urged those responsible to take effective measures in the fight against the pandemic, drawing lessons from the past when SARS broke out.

Next, the deputy minister dealt with matters on outbreak of bird flu in the nation, which is now under control thanks to concerted efforts, a child infected with bird flu in Kengtung Township and officials being able to control the virus strain from infecting others, and thanked to those who were engaged in the fight against the pandemic.

He stressed the need for the respective state and division health departments to draw and implement plans for prevention and control of the avian flu and touched upon measures to be taken.

This was followed by a general round of discussions. Afterwards, the deputy minister clarified matters on One Health, One World United for Avian Influenza and Human Influenza Pandemic Preparedness to be undertaken in the control of bird flu and human influenza pandemic, and called on those present to lay emphasis on implementing the task in cooperation with the public as a national concern.