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By Mona Khan

Islamabad—Active surveillance is one of the most important links in control of Avian Influenza and top priority is being accorded to this area by the Government.
This was stated here Friday by the Federal Health Minister Ejaz Rahim while presiding over the closing session of a National Training Workshop on Avian and Human Influenza Surveillance organized by the National Institute of Health, Islamabad in collaboration with the Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (FELTP) Pakistan.
We need to be vigilant and pro-active the Minister said adding that response through effective monitoring and surveillance was imperative in the wake of threats posed by episodes of Avian Influenza outbreaks.
The Minister was informed that the purpose of the course was to build the capacity of public health/ surveillance and veterinary officers from the all the provinces/AJK and Northern areas on the basic concepts of epidemiology, biostatistics and surveillance within the context of Avian influenza.
The Executive Director, NIH, Maj Gen (r) Masood Anwar highlighted the importance of the disease surveillance and rapid response in the containment of avian influenza outbreaks while emphasizing the need for strict vigilance on part of all concerned. He assured the participants for continuous support from NIH for the laboratory diagnosis and field investigation during any future outbreaks.
He informed that the curriculum of the course was specially designed by the Centers for Diseases Prevention and Control (CDC), Atlanta, USA. Dr. Rana Jawad Asghar, Resident Advisor, FELTP Pakistan informed the Minister of the role of Field Epidemiologists being trained under the FELTP in outbreak investigation, diseases surveillance and response while Dr. Birjees Kazi, Chief of Public Health Laboratories Division, NIH spoke on the global and national of influenza situations vis a vis the importance of disease surveillance for effective control of any outbreak .
Later the Federal Health Minister distributed certificates among the participants of the course. During the three day course the participants were trained on various aspects of seasonal and avian influenza surveillance, bio-safety issues, use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), outbreak investigation, laboratory diagnosis and clinical management of avian influenza cases through series of lectures and cases studies designed by the FELTP Pakistan. The training will help the provincial health departments in the establishment of rapid response teams and surveillance mechanisms in their respective provinces capable of responding to any avian influenza outbreak.