The Nepali government will start programs aimed at spreading awareness on bird flu at village and community levels, the government departments said Tuesday.

A meeting at the Department of Health Services (DoHS) Tuesday endorsed the coordination between Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), DoHS and the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) to disseminate information on the deadly avian influenza and its preventive measures.

The meeting decided to revise the pamphlets of bird flu and distribute new ones at community levels.

The meeting also decided to mobilize local manpower of the NRCS and the DoHS to spread awareness about the avian flu.

Till date no case of avian flu has been reported in Nepal but the open border and the season for migration of birds into the country always poses a risk of spreading of avian flu.

World Health Organization has confirmed avian flu endemic in China, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos while recent outbreaks have been confirmed in Greece, Malaysia, Russia, Mongolia and Romania.

Source: Xinhua