# 1626
Yesterday, the Press in Pakistan was admonished to not print anything about bird flu that wasn't `factual, objective, and positive'.
Bird-Flu: Journalists asked to focus on positive, factual reporting
ISLAMABAD, Feb 6 (APP): Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Prince Esa Jan Baloch here on Wednesday asked the journalists to focus on factual, objective and positive reporting to check spread of misconceptions and misinformation regarding the outbreak of bird flu in the country.
<snip>
People must not fear, they can eat chicken and egg as usual as there is no threat of bird flu,” the minister said adding that government has been vigilant to ensure provision of hygienic meat in the markets.
Since this press conference was jointly held by the Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock, the Federal Minister for Health, the Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination, and reportedly `other high-ups', this was obviously a shot across the bow of the press.
Reporters were told that :
There was not a single case in the world where a person was reported to have died after touching the affected poultry meat. There is no possibility of bird flu outbreak and the prevailing rumours about the spread of disease are only based on incomplete information
That apparently is their story, and they are sticking to it.
Just when you figure the spin couldn't become any more blatant, the PPA (Pakistan Poultry Association), which apparently carries a lot of weight in that country, held a news conference which was covered by just about every newspaper in the nation.
This press release builds on earlier statements made by the PPA, that have alleged that bird flu (and rumors of bird flu) are part of a conspiracy against the poultry industry.
First, the article. Then . . . well, I'll try to use nice language.
This from the The News.
Chicken safe for consumption: PPA
By Our correspondent
2/6/2008Islamabad
Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA) while declaring chicken meat as safe for human consumption on Tuesday said there was no truth in presence of bird flu virus in human body.
Addressing a joint press conference, PPA President Dr Muhammad Sadiq along with former chairman Dr Muhammad Aslam and former president Dr Hassan Sarosh assured masses that Pakistan’s chicken products were free of any bird flu virus. “The people need not to worry as the government has established 18 monitoring cells and samples of chickens are taken every month,” they said.
Dr Sadiq contented that bird flu was chicken specific and not transferable in human beings, and said that even according to WHO (World Health Organization) no human being has been infected with the virus so far, and all the rumours about this virus were rampant in Pakistan due to lack of knowledge.
<snip>
They also said that a vaccine for prevention and cure of bird flu was available in the market, and poultry farms use Rs300 million worth of vaccine.
So, what have we learned today?
- Pakistan's chickens are free of any bird flu virus
- Bird flu was specific to Chickens and not transferable to human beings
- No Human has been infected with the virus so far
- There is a vaccine for prevention and cure of bird flu
You can understand my consternation. Now I've got to go back and edit over 1600 blog entries!
Of course, the statements espoused by these `officials' reek of disinformation. Even the parts that are semi-true are arranged in such a way as to portray bird flu as an overblown, non-threat.
One could, perhaps, accept that they are talking about this current outbreak in Pakistan when they declare `No human has been infected with the virus' (although in context, they make it sound like anywhere in the world).
And the bit about there being a `vaccine for prevention and cure of bird flu' could simply be badly worded. There is no vaccine to `cure' bird flu. Vaccines, at best, may help ward off the flu. There is no `cure'. There are antivirals which may help the body fight the infection. But we've seen this sort of confusion about vaccines in the press before.
And the statement that `Pakistan's Chickens are free of the Virus', while assuming facts not in evidence, could be chalked up to wishful thinking. It isn't very likely, however.
But the statement that `Bird flu was specific to Chickens and not transferable to human beings' is indefensible. We've well over 300 human cases that prove that statement false.
Add to that the promise that there is` not a single case in the world where a person was reported to have died after touching the affected poultry meat', and you've effectively told the people of Pakistan that bird flu poses no danger to humans.
Many Pakistani's already believe bird flu is a hoax. News stories such as this one will only perpetuate that sentiment, and make dealing with an outbreak more difficult.
It's understandable that the government of Pakistan, and the Poultry Industry, would want to try to reassure the public about their safety. Newspaper induced panic certainly won't help the situation, and responsible reporting should be encouraged.
But this isn't the way to go about it.
