Smart-tek Solutions announced today its strategy which may assist in the containment and delay the spread of the H5N1 virus, also known as the avian influenza and bird flu virus.

Smart-tek Solutions, Inc.’s strategy for the containment of the Bird Flu virus is to leverage its expertise in the security, surveillance and monitoring sectors and apply its available technologies to prevent and/or deter poultry farmers and bird keepers from falsifying their records of the number of birds under their control, ownership and/or care. In Asia, it has been reported that poultry farmers and bird keepers regularly and frequently falsify their records to prevent the culling of their livestock. The primary reason for falsifying their records or not disclosing cases of bird flu virus is normally the result of a lack of or inadequate amount of compensation for the culling of their birds.

Many poor nations currently affected by the H5N1 virus lack adequate surveillance and reporting mechanisms and cannot compensate farmers for poultry culls. Africa, which many experts believe will be the next front line in the fight against bird flu, faces similar problems.

In a joint statement, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Animal Health Organization said, “The immediate challenge is to control avian influenza at source in the infected countries and stop the possible spread of the virus to other regions.” They further added, “The battle against bird flu can only be won if more efforts and resources are directed to containment of the virus in animals in rural areas.”

Smart-tek Solutions, Inc. technology includes the ability to tag, program and count the specific number of birds, with end user-defined rules, utilizing RFID protocols. Data such as 1) the number of birds tagged 2) owner information 3) location information 4) species information and 5) inspection dates can all be programmed utilizing case-by-case specific needs of Organizations, Governments and Agencies.

On his way to China to meet with Chinese officials, Donald Gee, Smart-tek Solutions Chairman and CEO said, “Worldwide fear and panic is spreading about a possible pandemic from the H5N1 bird flu virus.” He further added, “We believe the containment and delay of the spread of the avian flu virus by monitoring bird movement and utilizing good surveillance techniques is priority number one and paramount.”