Bangladesh - H5N1 Mar 16th - Mar 29th

[hawkeye]

Re: Bangladesh - H5N1 Spreading

Bangladesh deploys army to fight bird flu epidemic

Dhaka, March 28 (DPA) Army was called out in Bangladesh Wednesday to help in culling tens of thousands of poultry as the deadly H1N5 virus, commonly called bird flu, spread to new areas in the country, health officials said.

The soldiers were given strict instructions to supervise and monitor the destruction of the fowls infected with the virus.

"The army's assistance has been sought to better tackle the bird flu challenge facing the country," said C S Karim, Health Adviser to the interim government.

Karim said the Health Ministry's manpower resources and logistical facilities were already stretched while the infection was travelling fast to new areas.

The situation became more critical after the report claimed that the virus had stricken more than 1000 small poultry farms in central and eastern districts in Bangladesh.

About 50,000 chicken were culled in Bangladesh since the detection of bird flu infection in the South Asian country two weeks ago.

About half a million people, engaged in the poultry industry, were under the threat of losing jobs as farm owners were reporting a rapid decline in sales of fowls.

[Jonesie]

Re: Bangladesh - H5N1 Spreading

Indigenous chicken genetic resources in Bangladesh: current status and future outlook

A.K.F.H. Bhuiyan M.S.A. Bhuiyan & G.K. Deb


Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics Bangladesh Agricultural University
Mymensingh 2202 Bangladesh

Summary

Livestock especially poultry is a promising sector for poverty reduction in Bangladesh. Approximately 140 millions chickens are scattered throughout 68 000 villages in the country mostly of indigenous non-descript type. The production system for indigenous chickens is smallholder backyard scavenging in nature with each family keeping an average of 6-7 chickens to meet family requirements and from which a cash income can also be derived when necessary. Indigenous chickens produce about 75% of the eggs and 78% of the meat consumed domestically. Among said indigenous chicken genetic resources non-descript Deshi Aseel and Naked Neck breeds are noteworthy

The non-descript Deshi chicken constitutes about 90% of the indigenous population. Also known as ‘Murghi’ they have undergone unknown periods of natural selection and are a reservoir of excellent genetic diversity. They show high levels of morphological and phenotypic variability and increased fitness under natural settings. Studies reveal that they may be regarded as one breed or population because of the small genetic distances among them. Deshi chickens are characterized by black (75%) and red (25%) plumage colour; black (39%) yellow (32%) and white (29%) shank color; black (99%) eye color; bright red (59%) and pale (41%) comb colour; white (82%) and yellow (17%) skin colour; no definite (61%) and lacing (17%) feather pattern; medium (70%) and large (19%) body size; single comb (97%) and rudimentary spur (98%); medium egg size (80%); light brown (67%) and white (27%) egg shell colour. Regarding production traits Deshi chickens have average hatch weight of 29 g; body weight at 4 8 12 weeks; weekly weight gain (0-12 weeks) of respectively of 77 175 315 24 grams; age at first egg (175 days); weight of pullet (0.9 kg); mature body weight (1.3 kg); hatchability (52%); fertility (83%); annual egg production (45 -50 eggs); 9% mortality up to 500 days of age.

The indigenous chicken population of Bangladesh has been undergoing genetic erosion since the 1960s following the introduction of improved stock from developed countries. Efforts to sustain commercial hybrid broiler and layer chicken farming under intensive and semi-intensive production models have been tested but efficiency of systematic characterization screening breed improvement and conservation programmes with the indigenous Deshi chickens at the smallholder village levels (in-situ) of Bangladesh are yet to be tested. Such an initiative may help to save these creatures from the grip of the threat of extinction. This in turn may help to sustain village chicken production system in Bangladesh and could be a useful micro-economic strategy in the on-going poverty alleviation process in the country.

Résumé

L'élevage et en particulier l'élevage de volailles est un secteur important pour la réduction de la pauvreté au Bangladesh. Environ 140 millions de poulets sont élevés dans 68.000 villages la plupart appartenant à des races indigènes sans description du type. Le système de production des poulets indigènes est constitué de petites unités au sol avec une moyenne par élevage fermier de 6-7 poulets pour couvrir les besoins de la famille avec possibilité si nécessaire d'un revenu. Les races indigènes produisent environ 75% des oeufs et 78% de la viande consommés par famille. Mises à part ces ressources génétiques indigènes il faut aussi souligner l'importance de races non décrites de Deshi Aseel et Naked Neck.

La race non décrite Deshi représente environ 90% de la population indigène. Bien connue aussi comme "Murghi" ces populations ont été soumises à des périodes de sélection naturelle et représentent un excellent réservoir de diversité génétique. Le niveau de variabilité morphologique et phénotypique est élevé et en conditions naturelles on observe une amélioration de l'état physique. Des études ont indiqué qu'on peut les considérer comme une seule race ou population étant donné la courte distance génétique entre elles. Les poulets Deshi possèdent un plumage noir (75%) et rouge (25%); des pattes noires (39%) jaunes (32%) et blanches (29%); des yeux noirs (99%); une crête rouge intense (59%) ou pâle (41%); une peau blanche (82%) et jaune (17%); forme du plumage non défini (61%) et défini (17%); taille corporelle moyenne (70%) et grande (19%); crête unique (97%) et ergot rudimentaire (98%); taille des oeufs moyenne (67%); couleur de la coquille des oeufs brune (67%) et blanche (27%). En ce qui concerne la production les poulets Deshi pèsent en moyenne à l'éclosion 29 gr.; le poids corporel à la semaine 4 8 et 12 avec un gain de poids par semaine (0-12 semaines) respectivement de 77 175 315 24 gr.; âge à la première ponte d'œufs (175 jours); poids de la poulette (0,90 kg); poids corporel à la maturité (1,3 kg); niveau d'éclosion (54%); fertilité (83%); production annuelle d'œufs (45-50 œufs); 9% de mortalité jusqu'à 500 jours d'âge.

Depuis les années 60 la population indigène de poulet au Bangladesh a subi une érosion génétique à cause de l'introduction de races améliorées en provenance des pays développés. Des efforts ont été fait pour encouragé la commercialisation des hybrides de poulets d'engrais et de ponte en conditions de production intensives et semi-intensives mais l'efficacité de la caractérisation systématique la sélection l'amélioration de race et les programmes de conservation avec les poulets Deshi dans les conditions d'environnement au niveau des villages (in-situ) du Bangladesh doivent encore être testés. Ce genre d'initiative peut aider à sauver ces animaux de l'extinction. En même temps cela permettrait d'aider la production de poulets au niveau des villages du Bangladesh tout en étant utile pour la stratégie micro-économique du procès de réduction de la pauvreté dans le pays.


Introduction

The economy of Bangladesh heavily depends on its agricultural resources. Livestock is the most viable sector in the economy of the four sub-sectors of agriculture (crop livestock fisheries and forestry). At present livestock contributes 6.5% to GDP on the basis of value added through its production of milk eggs meat and hides and skins. Poultry production and poultry related industry contributes most significantly to the total livestock sector in Bangladesh some 21% of the total livestock contribution whereas the livestock sub-sector contributed 12 to 14% to total agricultural GDP in 1998 - 99 at current prices (Khan and Roy 2003).

It is estimated that there are about 140 million chickens and 13 million ducks in the total poultry population (DLS 2000).


Poultry production in Bangladesh is dominated by indigenous chickens. Indigenous chickens constitute nearly 80% of the total chicken population of the country (DLS 1998). About 89% of the rural livestock-holders rear chickens and the average number per household is 6.8. Very little is known however about the indigenous chicken flocks their genetic makeup management bird performance disease resistance and adaptation to local conditions. Therefore the aim of this study is to summarize the current status of the indigenous chicken genetic resources of Bangladesh and thereafter to suggest how they could be improved under the existing village conditions of the country.

Location and Temperature

Bangladesh is located between 20.75°N and 25.75°N in latitude and between 88.30°E and 92.75°E in longitude. The mean annual temperature is about 26°C (Figure 1). Mean monthly temperature ranges between about 18°C in January and 30°C in April-May. Extreme temperatures range between about 4°C and 43°C except on the coast. Ground frost is occasionally experienced in exposed parts of the hill areas but not on the plains.

Breeds/Types of Chicken

The indigenous chicken population is composed of a number of breeds/types such as non-descript Deshi Aseel Naked Neck and Hilly. Some dwarf chickens and Red Jungle Fowls can also be seen in the country. The non-descript Deshi chicken is more acceptable to rural people as an important source of meat and eggs (Barua and Howlider 1990) due to lower nutritional demand and higher resistance to diseases and heat stress. These rural Deshi chickens provide about 78% of poultry meat and 75% of eggs for domestic consumption. But these potential genetic resources are undergoing genetic erosion due to continuous introduction of exotic stock from developed country and their indiscriminate crossing with the indigenous chickens. No attempts have been made to improve and conserve these valued genetic resources.

Production and Management System

Chicken rearing is popular in the villages as a means of deriving food and extra income. Chicken rearing is culturally acceptable and technically and economically viable. Moreover the ownership of chickens is entirely in the hands of women. The common production method in the villages is backyard scavenging. The village chicken is a low producer because of poor genetic makeup and inadequate nutrition and management. In spite of this backyard chicken farming is a highly cost-effective enterprise because the inputs required to sustain the system are small. No cost is incurred by the farmers stocks and feeds are internally generated and health care is expected to be provided free by the government. Indigenous chickens have the advantage of being well adapted to the local environmental conditions (hot humid dry and rainy weather). Indigenous chickens are scavengers by nature and a system of supplementary feeding is not practical. The birds scavenge for their own feed from morning to evening around houses and fields. They depend on field grains insects earthworms green matters crop residues homestead pickings and kitchen wastes. No commercial diets are given to them. The eggs are naturally incubated under broody hens.

Distribution Housing and Diseases

The Deshi chickens and Naked Neck chickens are distributed throughout the country except in some hilly areas of the country. The Aseel indigenous game birds are found in Sarail Thana in the Brahmanbaria district and in the Chittagong region. Hilly birds are seen in hilly areas of the Chittagong region of the country.

Ninety nine per cent farmers keep their chickens in earthen houses. Out of 99% about 22% keep their chickens inside the owner’s bed room. In most of the mud houses space and ventilation system are not adequate. Inside the houses some bedding materials (litter) such as ash and sand are used. These materials are easily available to the farmers and cost nothing. The owner does not or cannot clean the houses every day but about once in 15 days cleaning takes place and is normally done by women. The chickens sometime lay eggs outside the chicken houses e.g. in store room or similar quiet places.

In the scavenging village chicken production system disease is the main constraint. The common diseases are Newcastle disease coccidiosis fowl cholera and fowl pox. Government vaccination programmes often do not reach the rural villages mainly due to insufficient veterinary extension services and shortage of vaccines.

Morphological Characteristics

In Bangladesh non-descript Deshi (Figure 2a and 2b) Naked Neck (Figure 3) Aseel (Figure 4) Hilly (Figure 5a and 5b) and Red Jungle Fowls (Figure 6) chickens comprise the indigenous chicken population. They show high levels of morphological and phenotypic variability and increased fitness under natural settings. Studies reveal that they may be regarded as one breed or population because of the small genetic distances among them (Okada et al. 1987). The Aseel is divided into two types Sarail and Chittagong. The morphological descriptions of indigenous chickens of Bangladesh are shown in Table 1 and 2.

Genetic Characterization

The volume of work pertaining to the genetic constitution of the indigenous chickens of Bangladesh is very thin. In the 1980s collaboration between Japan and Bangladesh Agricultural University attempted to clarify the gene constitution at the morphological and blood group loci of the Deshi chicken in Bangladesh (Okada et al. 1988 Zaman et al., 1991). Genetic distance was estimated from gene frequencies at 4 blood groups and plasma polymorphic proteins (the AKP AKP-2 ES-1 Amy-1 Amy-3 Alb Pas and Tf loci). The gene frequencies at morphological loci were also used to compare chickens of different districts (geographical areas of the country). The morphological characteristics observed were: a) comb shape; b) ear lobe colour; c) feather colour; and d) shank colour. Concerning the gene frequency at each locus some variations were observed among the districts. Good variation in the frequencies of the E and I alleles controlling feather colour was noticed. The genetic distances among indigenous Deshi populations were very small but the distance between the Deshi and Aseel was relatively large which almost corresponded to the differences between the breeds. These studies further revealed that no systematic selection had been carried out on those morphological characteristics of the indigenous chickens of Bangladesh.


Performance of Indigenous Chicken

Table 3 shows the performance of the Deshi chickens of Bangladesh summarized from various published scientific papers and research reports.
Among the indigenous population
egg production is higher in Naked Neck chicken. The annual egg production per hen was 50-55 in Naked Neck and was 45-50 in Deshi chickens under scavenging conditions. But the Aseel produced only 33 eggs per year under an intensive management system. In general the eggs of indigenous chicken are much smaller than those of exotic breeds/strains. Egg weight varied from 35-39 g in Deshi to 42 g in Naked Neck chickens. Deshi chickens attain puberty early relative to other indigenous types. The highest age at sexual maturity was 240-300 days in Aseel birds followed by 234 and 175 days respectively in Naked Neck and Deshi chickens. The mature body weight of Deshi and Naked Neck chickens was very similar and it varied from 1.0 to 1.3 kg. But the Aseel bird was heavier than other indigenous chickens. The feed conversion efficiency for per kilo body weight and per kilo egg mass production was 4.5 and 8.6 - 8.8 respectively in Deshi chickens. However data for feed efficiency in Naked Neck and Aseel chickens is not available.



Indigenous chickens are more resistant to prevalent diseases under a free range system. The mortality rate of Deshi birds was 9.0% up to the age of 500 days. But the mortality rate was slightly lower in the Naked Neck chicken. The hatchability of all eggs varied from 75% to 87%. This wide rage of hatchability may be due to differences in incubation systems and other environmental factors.

Breeding Programme

Breeding efforts were undertaken to improve the chicken genetic resource of Bangladesh mainly through an upgrading and/or crossbreeding programme. The main vision of all efforts was to establish a suitable type of chicken adaptable to the environmental conditions of Bangladesh. Hoque et al. (1975) in the early 1970s crossed indigenous Deshi chickens with White Leghorn New Hampshire and White Cornish birds and found that the Deshi chicken can be improved in a sustainable way by upgrading with exotic breeds and that the New Hampshire upgrade was most economic for egg production under farm conditions (intensive system).

A Backyard Poultry Development Project was in operation during 1970s (Ahmed and Islam 1985) with the intention of upgrading the Deshi chicken through the production and distribution of breeding cocks and pullets in the rural project villages. This programme was initiated by the Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) through the financial assistance of UNICEF in 100 villages. During the project’s life firstly the indigenous Deshi birds were vaccinated farmers motivated to dispose of their Deshi cocks and to rear crossbred chicken. This programme was also supplemented with feeds farmer cooperative formation (Backyard Poultry Raisers Society BPR) regular vaccinations training and marketing channel development. The society members disposed of all their indigenous cocks from the project area. The germplasm introduced was Rhode Island Red (RIR) or White Leghorn (WLH) x RIR or Australorp cocks of 18-20 weeks of age. The aim was to maintain rigidly a 50% exotic and 50% indigenous blood level under village conditions. A total of 5264 cocks 3500 pullets 1500 growing chicks and 74,100 hatching eggs were distributed among the BPRs of the project area. Implementation of said programme in the villages resulted in a significant increase in average egg production per hen per year an increase in average annual egg consumption per person and a lowering of bird mortality (growing and adult) during the project’s life. However it was noticed that after withdrawal of project activity the crossbred birds failed to be sustained in the villages.

Following the BAU Backyard Poultry Development Project the government of Bangladesh took up the Cockerel Exchange Programme in the country for the development of indigenous village chickens. Improved exotic breeds (WLH RIR Fayoumi) were mainly being used for the improvement of local chickens via a crossbreeding programme through the distribution of egg chick and pullets and cockerel exchange activities. In support of this up until the 1990s the Government Central Poultry Farm and its multiplication units maintained exotic pure breeds (WLH RIR New Hampshire Plymouth Rock) and hatched day old pure-bred chicks these being sold to interested farmers and private smallholder entrepreneurs to encourage them to take up commercial chicken farming. However again no positive growth could be shown using exotic pure-breds in village conditions mainly because of problems arising of adaptability high mortality and significant genotype-environment interaction.

Experiments at the Government Central Poultry Farm Dhaka during the period from 1987 to 1989 encompassed 22 genetic groups of which 5 were pure-breds (Australorp Barred Plymouth Rock White Leghorn Rhode Island Red Fayoumi and indigenous Deshi) and the remainder were crossbreds (F1) made up of the aforementioned pure breeds (Ambar et al. 1999). These studies inferred that Fayoumi may best be used for crossbreeding with WLH or RIR (Fayoumi x WLH - called Rupali and RIR x Fayoumi called Sonali). Further the resultant layers would be suitable for those farmers who wished to farm on small scale eggeries in semi-intensive conditions in Bangladesh. With the Government Central Poultry Farm producing Sonali/Rupali commercial chicken production in semi-intensive conditions in Bangladesh continued until the mid 1990s.

Another trial was commenced in 1993 (Rahman et al. 1996) where different exotic hens were tested in semi-scavenging conditions. One of the breed combinations was a cross between a commercial hybrid as the female line and an improved breed (Fayoumi RIR or WLH) as the male line. Another breed combination was Sonali. The hypothesis was that the use of commercial hybrids as parent hens would satisfy the multiplication links with respect to high egg production while using another breed as males would satisfy the end users with respect to good scavenging and survival traits. Their study inferred that for the government semi-scavenging smallholder model of chicken production the breeding strategy should be based on the production of Sonali birds.

http://www.fao.org/docrep/008/a0070t/a0070t0c.htm

[unpathedhaunt]

Re: Bangladesh - H5N1 Spreading

Workers under observation for suspected H5N1
Published: Wednesday, 28 March, 2007, 09:00 AM Doha Time
DHAKA: Bangladesh said yesterday it is closely monitoring about 100 workers from farms where the H5N1 bird flu virus has been confirmed in poultry.
About 50,000 chickens have been culled since the outbreak of avian flu was confirmed in nine farms near the capital Dhaka and northern Jamalpur district last week.
No humans have tested positive for the disease in Bangladesh but officials are monitoring the workers just to be sure.
"We have been closely watching some 100 farm workers for suspected infection and if necessary their blood and other samples will be sent for tests," Mahmudur Rahman, a director of the government health directorate, said.
Blood and other samples of 10 other workers from the affected poultry farms also showed they were not infected with bird flu.
The samples were tested at the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research in Dhaka.
Rahman said Bangladesh was adequately equipped to combat human cases of H5N1 influenza.
"We have 133,000 doses of Oseflu, an effective local version of Tamiflu, to combat human-infection by bird flu," Rahman said.
"These are sufficient, because cases of human infection were very low in the countries where bird flu had been reported so far."
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says 169 people have died of bird flu in 11 countries since 2003 and there are fears the virus could mutate and pass easily among humans, causing a pandemic. For the moment, H5N1 is hard for humans to catch and is essentially a bird disease.
Bangladesh's leading drug firm, Beximco Pharmaceuticals, started marketing Oseflu early last year.
WHO officials in Dhaka said they had 5,000 Tamiflu doses reserved for a rapid-response team fighting bird flu in Bangladesh. The team comprises Bangladeshi and WHO officials.
Meanwhile, thousands more chickens have been slaughtered in Bangladesh after the country confirmed its first outbreak of bird flu last week, officials said yesterday.
Nearly 4,000 chickens were killed at farms in the northern Jamalpur district on Monday.
"We culled 3,777 chickens on two farms in Jamalpur district," a livestock ministry official, who asked not to be named, said.
"We also have reports that chickens in (central) Narayanganj district have been affected and we will take the necessary action there," he added.
Bird flu was first confirmed in Bangladesh last Thursday after samples from one farm near the capital tested positive for the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus. Some 40,000 birds at six farms were slaughtered there.
The H5N1 virus has killed at least 169 people since late 2003, most of them in Asia, according to the World Health Organisation.
Bangladesh is home to hundreds of thousands of poultry farms which employ more than a million people.
Bangladesh has 125,000 small and large poultry firms producing 250mn broilers and 6bn eggs annually, with annual turnover of $750mn. ? Agencies

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=140496&version=1&template_id=44&parent_id=24

Gulf Times Newspaper, 2007

[Treyfish]

Re: Bangladesh - H5N1 Spreading

WHO support in preventing spread of bird flu assured World Health Organisation (WHO) representative in Dhaka assured the government Wednesday of all-out support to its efforts in preventing the spread of bird flu.
The assurance from WHO representative Duangvadee Sungkhobol came when she met with the adviser of fisheries and livestock ministry, CS Karim, at his secretariat office Wednesday.
Khalilur Rahman Siddiqui, a joint secretary of the ministry, told the FE that the WHO official had expressed her satisfaction over the measures taken against attack of bird flu.
Siddiqui said the WHO Dhaka chief also assured the adviser to provide assistance for laboratory test of the bird flu virus.
While briefing the newsmen Siddiqui said 3,546,704 poultry birds at a total of 2053 farms were inspected on March 27 across the country.
Of them, so far 11 poultry farms have been found infected by the Avian virus, he said adding that four virus-infected farms were found in Savar, three in Gazipur, two in Jamalpur and two in Narayanganj.
On March 27, the inspection teams culled 1,942 poultry birds across the country, he said.


the Financial Express

[Treyfish]

Re: Bangladesh - H5N1 Spreading

No bird flu in 21 districts in Khulna zone, claims BPIA
Our Correspondent, Khulna

Leaders of Khulna divisional unit of Bangladesh Poultry Industries Association in a press conference at Khulna Pres Club on Wednesday 11:30 am claimed that there was no bird flu in 21 districts of Khulna zone.
There is no reason of being terrified about bird-flue in the zone as no bird-flu contamination is detected here in past and the poultry meat and eggs here are safe and free from any danger, said a written speech read by the Khulna divisional coordinator of BPIA, SM Sohorab Hossain.
The meat and eggs are cooked in our country in such a temperature that bird-flue virus can not affect our body, the speech claimed, giving a call to the common people not to pay heed to rumours.
Answering to the newsmen, the association leaders said that the sale of poultry eggs and meets have declined and the price of them has also decreased during past few days.
The press meet was also attended by organization leaders- Dr Purnendu Gain, Dr Md Sayeduzzaman, SM Anisuzzaman Panna, Md Salahuddin, Syed Belal Hossain and Sheikh Ainul Haque, among others.

Create mass awareness about bird flu

Speakers at Comilla workshop

A workshop on "Bird flu and Its Prevention" was held in the district town hall yesterday.
The department of livestock and local administration jointly organized the workshop to create awareness about the outbreak of avian influenza among poultry farm owners.
Deputy Commissioner M Mohibul Hossain spoke on the occasion as chief guest with livestock official Dr. Sheikh Saidur Rahman was in the chair.
Livestock officials Dr. Aminur Rahman, Dr. Amir Hossain, M Abu Taher and poultry farm owner Abdul Malek Bhuiyan, among others, took part in the discussion.
The speakers said bird flu was not detected anywhere in the district so far. They urged all to exercise maximum cautious in this regard.


The Bangledesh Today.com

[Treyfish]

Re: Bangladesh - H5N1 Spreading

Beware of bird flu
By Abir Abdullah
Thu, 29 Mar 2007, 11:51:00
The strain of bird flu deadly to humans was detected at a state-run poultry farm and the workers recently slaughtered about 50,000 chickens in some affected farms at Savar and Gazipur.The H5N1 strain of bird flu had been detected in birds only, not humans in Bangladesh. Bird Flu is caused by influenza A virus and domestic poultries are far more susceptible to these viruses. Most cases of avian influenza infection in humans are thought to have resulted from direct contact with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces. However the disease is not transferred from human to human.

Bangladesh Government has already taken measures to protect the poultry farms in the country. Culling of a very large number of affected fowls already been done. Medical teams led by livestock department are visiting the poultry farms and examining the fowls. About 3.5 million people are employed in the poultry sector in that adds a value worth some Taka 50 billion or $833 million to the country's GDP and thus the poultry farms have played a vital role on the economy. People are also advised to cook chickens and eggs above 70 degree Celsius to kill the virus.


nation.ittefag.com

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Bangladesh - H5N1 Spreading

Bird Flu in Bandar, N'ganj

174 poultry farms sealed off

Star Report

The district livestock administration has sealed off all 174 chicken farms and placed restrictions on transport of poultry products at Bandar upazila of Narayanganj following detection of bird flu at four local farms.

Besides, it has been keeping the farms at the adjoining Sonargaon upazila under constant surveillance after abnormal death of fowls at Kadirganj village there.

Elsewhere in the country, no case of bird flu has been reported yesterday, our correspondents report.

Meanwhile, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser CS Karim yesterday called on the private TV channels and radio stations to help the government in its efforts to develop public awareness about the avian flu that poses a serious threat to the country's poultry industry. Some 4.5 lakh families have invested over Tk 6,000 crore in the business.

Though the situation is under control now, he said, the media should carry out a campaign educating people on the potential fallout from the deadly virus. Karim made the observations when a delegation of private TV channels met him at his office yesterday.

Our Narayanganj correspondent adds: Laboratory test reports have confirmed bird flu infection at the four farms at Bandar, said District Livestock Officer Abu Taher. Of the affected ones, two are at Sonakanda, one at Purbo Kalyandi and the other at Malivita.

Besides shutting in the 174 farms, the administration has been seeking to make aware locals about the disease by circulating information through loudspeakers. As part of the measures, 468 chickens were culled at Malivita village yesterday. The number of poultry farms in the district currently stands at 989.

Our Khulna correspondent reports: Samples from two suspected farms in Bagerhat could not be tested as those were decomposed before reaching Dhaka. Those samples were sent to the capital Tuesday following death of some 600 chickens.

The reports include all poultry farms of Khulna and Bagerhat district have been kept under surveillance by Rapid Response Team of Livestock Department. Necessary measures have been taken against spread of the bird flu, said Deputy Director of Khulna divisional livestock office Mohammed Abdul Hye. There are around 55,000 poultry farms in Khulna district.

Our Tangail correspondent reports: The district authorities have yet to take any step to cull the free-range chicken within the one-kilometre radius of two flu-affected farms in Bhuapur upazila.

Akhter Ali, deputy commissioner of the district, told The Daily Star that they have been keeping a close watch on all farms. They did not cull the free-range fowls, as they had no directions from the livestock department, he added.

A correspondent from Benapole adds: The livestock officials at Sharsha upazila burned 95 chickens that had been bought in from Gazipur. Earlier, they seized those from Monirul, a poultry trader.

The livestock officials sat with the local farm owners and asked them to take cautionary measures against spread of bird flu.

Our Gazipur correspondent reports that the Rapid Response Team yesterday examined around 1.40 lakh chickens at 129 farms but those did not show any symptoms suggesting avian flu.

http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/03/30/d7033001107.htm

[Treyfish]

Re: Bangladesh - H5N1 Spreading

Rajshahi poultry market almost normal
Our Correspondent . Rajshahi
Detection of bird flu at Savar and some other places in the country put a very little impact on the poultry market in the Rajshahi city as there was no report of avian influenza in the district till Thursday.
There was, however, a rush among the farm owners to sell their birds as soon as possible despite preventive measures taken by the district livestock department office.
Traders at a number of markets in the city said as there was no report of bird flu cases in the district, sale of poultry birds was almost normal.
The prices of poultry fall slightly and it was selling at Tk 90 per kilogram on Thursday as against Tk 100 or more before the detection of bird flu. There was no effect on the egg price and it was selling at its earlier price.
The district veterinary officer of Rajshahi, Ataur Rahman, said the livestock department had taken preventive measures and programmes to create mass awareness.
The owners have also been asked to closely observe the chickens in their farms and remain in touch with the department, he said adding the border guards and other law enforcing agencies had also been requested to strengthen vigil so that no poultry birds can enter into the country through the borders.
More than 200 chickens of a farm at Sagarpara in the
city became sick last week and the samples were sent to Jaipurhat for laboratory test, but no evidence of bird flu was found, the veterinary officer said.
Mustagir Rahman, a poultry farm owner, said there were about 20,000 layer chickens at his farm and those were screened closely.
There are about 200 poultry farms in nine upazilas of the district — Puthia, Bagha, Bagmara, Godagari, Tanore, Charghat, Mohanpur, Paba and Matiher — and all the chickens in the farms were examined, but there was no report of avian influenza strain, he added.

newagebd.com

[Treyfish]

Re: Bangladesh - H5N1 Spreading

Media urged to help combat bird flu



Adviser for Fisheries and Livestock, Environment and Forests and Agriculture Dr C S Karim today called upon both government and private media to play an active role in creating mass awareness to combat bird flu in the country, reports BSS.
He made the call while exchanging views with top executives of private electronic media at his office here. Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Sayed Ataur Rahman, Information Secretary Didarul Anwar and Principal Information Officer Iftekhar Hossain were present.
The Adviser referred to over Taka 6,000 crore as investment in the poultry sector with 4.5 lakh families depending on it and said collective efforts are must to protect this principal source of protein.
“Chicken culling, survey, testing samples and creation of awareness in the affected areas are continuing and the overall situation is under the government’s control,” he said.
Dr. Karim also informed the electronic media chiefs that no news of fresh affected area was received today. Still, he said, farmers are afraid of attack from the bird flu and consumers are hesitant about eating eggs and chickens.
He said the media should launch a massive publicity campaign by highlighting the overall situation prevailing in the country. “Since ban on transportation of chickens and eggs from the bird flu affected areas is still in force, therefore there is no chance of their entry into markets,” he said.
The media representatives assured the Adviser of their spontaneous cooperation in this regard and said the private media played their due role in any disastrous situation in the past and would do so in future also.

newstoday-bd.com

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Bangladesh - H5N1 Spreading

(India) Bird flu alert along Indo-Bangla border
Pranesh Sarkar

KOLKATA, March 29: Eight Bangladesh bordering districts have been put on high alert by the state health department after deadly H5N1 virus or bird flu virus was detected in Bangladesh recently. Though no human case has been reported in the neighbouring country so far, the health department is apparently not ready to take any chances.

State health department officials told The Statesman that bird flu or avian influenza would continue to pose a risk to human health as long as it is circulating animals, as the disease has proven itself capable of crossing the species barrier. The larger problem, however, is if the avian influenza strain, produces a new strain that could spark a human influenza pandemic.

?As it was already reported in the neighbouring country like Bangladesh, we have to be alert. We have asked all our officials to keep a close watch on the hospitals. If any suspected patient is admitted in any anywhere, particularly in the bordering districts, the case has to be taken up with utmost sincerity,? said an officer.

?Its not a time to sit back and relax. As the disease has reached our neighbouring country, we have to take adequate precautionary measures,? said a highly placed official at the state health department.

According to the caution notice, the district authorities of Nadia, Malda, Murshidabad, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, South 24-Parganas, North 24-Parganas and Cooch Behar were asked to alert all hospitals to keep a vigil on patients especially those admitted with disease that could not be diagnosed immediately. In that case, the authorities concerned should be informed immediately. All required pathological tests have to be arranged as early as possible.

Dr SN Dutta, the state joint director (public health), said: ?We have initiated proper precautionary measures and sent protective gears to deal with the virus in all districts. So far, there is nothing to be worried about as no case was reported from the state.?

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=2&theme=&usrsess=1&id=151388

[Treyfish]

Re: Bangladesh - H5N1 Spreading

Bangladesh says bird flu spreads to more farms
1 hour, 31 minutes ago


DHAKA (Reuters) http://yq.search.yahoo.com/search method[URL="http://search.news.yahoo.com/search/news/?p=Bird+flu"]Bird flu has spread to five more farms in central and northern districts, Bangladesh said on Friday.
"The avian flu has now spread to 16 farms in five districts so far. But no humans have been confirmed infected," an official of the fisheries and livestock ministry said.


Bangladesh has culled about 60,000 birds since confirming the outbreak of the H5N1 flu virus simultaneously on six farms near the capital, Dhaka, on March 22.
All the culled birds belonged to the 16 affected farms. So far, 30 workers in the five newly affected farms were being monitored after they were given health checks.
Earlier, 100 poultry workers were released after no H5N1 infection was detected by a local laboratory, which tested their blood and other samples days after the initial outbreak was detected.
Movement of chickens has been banned outside a 10 sq km (3.9 sq miles) area around the affected farms, officials said.
Livestock officials said after the outbreak of the virus they had inspected about 10,000 farms containing nearly 1.1 million birds

news.yahoo.com

[Treyfish]

Re: Bangladesh - H5N1 Spreading

This story was removed before i could catch it The Daily Star Web Edition Vol. 5 Num 1006It is very alarming to know that some poultry farms in Savar area have shown the presence of "Bird Flu Virus". I am very worried when I see through TV that .
www.thedailystar.net/2007/03/30/d70330110394.htm - Mar 29, 2007 - Similar pages Can you say media control?
Blue has both eyes open too!
Luckily croftsblog captured it before it disappeared:

http://crofsblogs.typepad.com/h5n1/2007/03/a_letter_to_the.html

[hawkeye]

Re: Bangladesh - H5N1 Spreading

thnx treyfish

[hawkeye]

Re: Bangladesh - H5N1 Spreading

looks like the dailystar missed this one:
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</TD></TR><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=4 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=newsdetails vAlign=top>Deadly Bird Flu
Kazi Ahmed, AIT, Bangkok, Thailand

It is very alarming to know that some poultry farms in Savar area have shown the presence of "Bird Flu Virus". I am very worried when I see through TV that our authorities are downgrading the presence by saying that this outbreak would be controlled and there is no need to be alarmed. I would, rather, say that the authorities must let people know how deadly this disease could be and what precautions we should take in handling chicken: 1. If we handle live or cut raw chicken, we must wash our hands with proper disinfectants. 2. We must cook the chicken fully, like we do in cooking curries. 3. We must not eat half cooked fried or baked chicken or chicken tikka, 4. Eggs must be washed and eaten only full boiled (no half-boiled, poached or fried) and must not be given to children. Hands must be washed properly after handling eggs. 5. Must be careful to see the doctors when flu like ailments appears. 5. Must not feed the fish farms with droppings from the chicken farms. We must not forget that this flu is fatal and very much contagious. In Vietnam and Thailand, I have seen that the authorities take extra precautions with the children living nearby the affected farms. Children are more prone to be contaminated because they mostly try to play with the birds (even dead birds). In Vietnam and Thailand I have seen that the interest of common people is taken care of in case of Bird Flu outbreak, not the interest of poultry farmers or poultry businessman. What will happen if Bird Flu virus spreads in Bangladesh? I just cannot imagine!

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[hawkeye]

Re: Bangladesh - H5N1 Spreading

174 poultry farms sealed off
Star Report

The district livestock administration has sealed off all 174 chicken farms and placed restrictions on transport of poultry products at Bandar upazila of Narayanganj following detection of bird flu at four local farms.

Besides, it has been keeping the farms at the adjoining Sonargaon upazila under constant surveillance after abnormal death of fowls at Kadirganj village there.

Elsewhere in the country, no case of bird flu has been reported yesterday, our correspondents report.

Meanwhile, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser CS Karim yesterday called on the private TV channels and radio stations to help the government in its efforts to develop public awareness about the avian flu that poses a serious threat to the country's poultry industry. Some 4.5 lakh families have invested over Tk 6,000 crore in the business.

Though the situation is under control now, he said, the media should carry out a campaign educating people on the potential fallout from the deadly virus. Karim made the observations when a delegation of private TV channels met him at his office yesterday.

Our Narayanganj correspondent adds: Laboratory test reports have confirmed bird flu infection at the four farms at Bandar, said District Livestock Officer Abu Taher.

Of the affected ones, two are at Sonakanda, one at Purbo Kalyandi and the other at Malivita.

Besides shutting in the 174 farms, the administration has been seeking to make aware locals about the disease by circulating information through loudspeakers. As part of the measures, 468 chickens were culled at Malivita village yesterday. The number of poultry farms in the district currently stands at 989.

Our Khulna correspondent reports: Samples from two suspected farms in Bagerhat could not be tested as those were decomposed before reaching Dhaka. Those samples were sent to the capital Tuesday following death of some 600 chickens.

The reports include all poultry farms of Khulna and Bagerhat district have been kept under surveillance by Rapid Response Team of Livestock Department. Necessary measures have been taken against spread of the bird flu, said Deputy Director of Khulna divisional livestock office Mohammed Abdul Hye. There are around 55,000 poultry farms in Khulna district.

Our Tangail correspondent reports: The district authorities have yet to take any step to cull the free-range chicken within the one-kilometre radius of two flu-affected farms in Bhuapur upazila.

Akhter Ali, deputy commissioner of the district, told The Daily Star that they have been keeping a close watch on all farms. They did not cull the free-range fowls, as they had no directions from the livestock department, he added.

A correspondent from Benapole adds: The livestock officials at Sharsha upazila burned 95 chickens that had been bought in from Gazipur. Earlier, they seized those from Monirul, a poultry trader.

The livestock officials sat with the local farm owners and asked them to take cautionary measures against spread of bird flu.

Our Gazipur correspondent reports that the Rapid Response Team yesterday examined around 1.40 lakh chickens at 129 farms but those did not show any symptoms suggesting avian flu.