The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has warned against the bird flu situation in Bangladesh and said it is "serious". The country needs a long term strategy to control the deadly H5N1 strain, the FAO said.

Though no cases of human infection have been reported in Bangladesh, some 157,000 chickens have been culled and 1.5 million eggs destroyed as the virus spread to 11 out of 64 districts since the first outbreak, announced in March.

"Bangladesh has a real chance to get the virus under control, if it commits itself to a full-scale comprehensive national control campaign," FAO Chief Veterinary Officer Joseph Domenech said in a statement.

"In response to recent outbreaks in Bangladesh, the Government and veterinary authorities have applied immediate control and containment measures in affected areas," Domenech noted.

But he also stressed there was an urgent need for vigorously stepping up and extending current H5N1 control campaigns.

The potential spread of the H5N1 virus throughout the market chain, for example, through the collection of eggs and distribution of day-old chicks and feed, should be investigated, Domenech stressed. He recommended culling of birds in the affected areas in Bangladesh to prevent the disease from spreading. The movement of people, animals and goods in affected areas has to be strictly controlled and basic bio-security measures (disinfection, protective clothing, etc.) applied.

Targeted vaccination to stop the virus spread and improving the capacity of veterinary laboratories to facilitate rapid diagnosis of suspected outbreaks were the other measures suggested the FAO official.

Bangladesh has about 220 million chickens and 37 million ducks. Five million people are directly employed by the poultry industry, millions of households rely on poultry production for income generation and nutrition, FAO said.

In
'"/>




Page: 1 2
Related medicine news :

1. Bangladesh Bans the Import of Indian Chickens Due To Fear of Bird Flu
2. Bangladesh Ill-Prepared for an Outbreak of Bird Flu
3. Bangladesh Progressing But Must Yet Face Challenges In Health Sector
4. Immunization Programme In Bangladesh A Success
5. Immunization Programme In Bangladesh A Success
6. Bangladeshi Baby gets New Lease of Life in Delhi
7. HIV/AIDS prevention program extended by 18 months in Bangladesh
8. NIDs Targets Immunizations To 22 Million Children In Bangladesh
9. Bangladesh to Set Up HIV/AIDS Diagnosis Laboratories
10. Kolkatas Birla Hospital to Foray into Bangladesh
11. Bangladesh Wages a War Against Polio – 22 Million Children to Receive Vaccinatio