The World Health Organization (WHO) Wednesday cautioned Pakistan against the avian flu virus of H5N1 though it has not been isolated to date in the country, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan.

WHO representative to Pakistan Dr. Faizullah Kakkar informed a workshop, which was jointly organized by the Health Ministry and the world body, that the way the avian influenza is traveling is feared to also reach Pakistan.

Seeking absolute caution at all levels and all necessary measures to prevent its eruption in the country, Kakkar said the avian flu virus isolated in the United States only recently reinforces WHO's concern and alarm.

Pakistan in late January confirmed the outbreak of the avian influenza disease in some poultry farms in the southern port city of Karachi and attributed the outbreak to an H-7 type of virus, which is said to be not harmful to human beings.

(Xinhua News Agency February 11, 2004)