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Bird flu experts join probe of mystery Bangladesh deaths
Feb 14, 2007
DHAKA (AFP) - Bird flu experts are part of a team investigating the unexplained death of three people in northern Bangladesh.
Bangladesh has so far reported no cases of avian flu.
"The Health Directorate of Dhaka formed a five-member medical team comprising bird flu experts and sent them to the village and started an investigation into the disease," the official news agency BSS report said Wednesday.
The investigation followed the death of a 32-year-old man on January 26. His wife, 24, died last Friday after falling sick with similar symptoms, the report said without giving details.
Another man died in hospital in Dhaka on Monday. Two others -- including the sister of one of the deceased -- were also taken ill and hospitalised in a serious condition, BSS said.
All came from the same village of Beloya, Thakurgaon district, in northwestern Bangladesh.
Officials were not immediately available for comment.
Bangladesh has banned imports of poultry and poultry products from a string of countries as a precaution against avian flu.
With an annual turnover of 750 million dollars, poultry farming is one of Bangladesh's fastest-growing industries and employs more than two million workers.
Some 270 cases of humans being infected by the bird flu virus had been reported worldwide since 2003 with 164 deaths as of last month.
More than 200 million birds have been culled worldwide in recent years in efforts to stop the spread of bird flu.
Bird flu experts join probe of mystery Bangladesh deaths
Feb 14, 2007
DHAKA (AFP) - Bird flu experts are part of a team investigating the unexplained death of three people in northern Bangladesh.
Bangladesh has so far reported no cases of avian flu.
"The Health Directorate of Dhaka formed a five-member medical team comprising bird flu experts and sent them to the village and started an investigation into the disease," the official news agency BSS report said Wednesday.
The investigation followed the death of a 32-year-old man on January 26. His wife, 24, died last Friday after falling sick with similar symptoms, the report said without giving details.
Another man died in hospital in Dhaka on Monday. Two others -- including the sister of one of the deceased -- were also taken ill and hospitalised in a serious condition, BSS said.
All came from the same village of Beloya, Thakurgaon district, in northwestern Bangladesh.
Officials were not immediately available for comment.
Bangladesh has banned imports of poultry and poultry products from a string of countries as a precaution against avian flu.
With an annual turnover of 750 million dollars, poultry farming is one of Bangladesh's fastest-growing industries and employs more than two million workers.
Some 270 cases of humans being infected by the bird flu virus had been reported worldwide since 2003 with 164 deaths as of last month.
More than 200 million birds have been culled worldwide in recent years in efforts to stop the spread of bird flu.
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