Bangladesh Media urged not to panic the "common people"

[sharon sanders]

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="arttext">Media can play due role to prevent bird flu
By BSS, Rajshahi
Fri, 18 May 2007, 13:03:00

</td> <td class="arttext" align="right" valign="top"> Email this article
Printer friendly page
Access News Photos
</td> </tr> </tbody></table> Speakers at the inaugural session of a three-day workshop for the journalists here on Friday said media could play a vital role in the overall efforts to prevent the Avian Influenza (bird flu) infection.

They said creation of awareness, instead of spreading panic among the common people, is very essential to protect the poultry sector from devastation caused by bird flu.

Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) with support from the UNICEF is organizing the workshop on "Avian Influenza and Pandemic Influenza Awareness and Preparedness" here to aware the journalists about the disease and its possible precautionary measures.

Director General of PIB Mridula Bhattacharya addressed the inaugural session as the chief guest with Director (Training) Mahfuzur Rahman in the chair. Around 40 newsmen working in both print and electronic media from Chapainawabganj and Rajshahi districts are taking part in the workshop.

Dr. A H Noor Ali Khan of Bangladesh Agriculture University presented the keynote paper describing historical background, current status and socio-economic impact of bird flu its probable causes and prevention.

Terming the frontier areas as the most vulnerable to the infection by this disease, the speakers said smuggling of chicks and eggs into the country must be checked and effective steps should be taken to stop this kind of cross border trade.

They urged the Department of Livestock and other concerned authorities to step up due measures against the pandemic avian influenza to protect the poultry farms as a large number of grassroots people are directly involved with this vital sector, contributing enormously to the country's economic progress.

The speakers also urged the government to bring the poultry hatcheries within the close supervision and monitoring network of the Department of Livestock along with imparting necessary training to the poultry farmers on motivation and awareness to check the infection.

They said the journalists could play a very significant role in this regard as the avian influenza is not only a threat for the poultry sector but also for the human being.

http://nation.ittefaq.com/artman/publish/article_36173.shtml

 

[Treyfish]

Re: Bangladesh Media urged not to panic the "common people"

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=newspath>
</TD></TR><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=4 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=newsdetails vAlign=top>Another 1275 fowls culled in Jaldhaka
Our Correspondent, Nilphamari

Another 1,275 fowls of indigenous species were culled in Berubon village of Shimulbari union of Jaldhaka upazila on Thursday night and Friday morning as avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is spreading in the upazila.
Earlier on 10 May, over 4,500 bird flu-affected domestic fowls were culled in West Gulmonda Master Para village in the upazila.

There are more reports of death of fowls from suspected bird flu in different parts of the upazila.

The culled fowls include 1,104 chickens, 48 ducks and 123 pigeons from 231 households, Upazila Livestock Office sources said, adding that 340 eggs were also destroyed and buried.

Tazul Islam, a farmer of Berubon village of Shimulbari union under the upazila, brought samples of his dead domestic chickens to the Upazila Livestock Office wherefrom those were sent to Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) at Savar in Dhaka for testing on Tuesday.
The BLRI report that identified the disease as bird flu reached Nilphamari on Thursday and a team led by Jaldhaka Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mohammad Salehuddin and First Class Magistrate Mamunul Hasan went to the affected village the same night, District Livestock Officer Dr Sekendar Ali said.

The team comprising officers and employees of district and upazila livestock offices, army, BDR and police started killing and burying the domestic fowls at 11:00pm and it continued till yesterday noon. The upazila administration told the poultry farmers that they would be compensated.
Some 400 to 500 chickens, ducks and pigeons died in Berubon village from an unknown disease in last two weeks, locals said.
Panic is prevailing among the people of the village and surrounding areas as there are several hundred small and big poultry farms in the district.

The upazila administration arranged announcement through loudspeakers of mosques of Berubon village to make people aware of bird flu disease.

Poultry farmers in the village have been instructed not to rear chicken, ducks and pigeons for the next three months, UNO Salehuddin said.
Visiting different parts of the upazila yesterday, this correspondent got more reports of death of domestic fowls. Azizul Islam, a teacher of Jaldhaka College and an inhabitant of College Para Jaldhaka Municipality, said 15 of his domestic chickens died of mysterious disease in last two days. Majibar Master of Panthapara village of the upazila also reported the death of a number of fowls in last couple of days. They said the Upazila Livestock Office was informed of the incidents.:tiphat: http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/05/19/d70519012416.htm
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>