Bird flu detected in Savar poultry farm
Council meeting told
The Daily Star, 23-03-2007

Avian Influenza virus has been detected in a poultry farm at Savar on the outskirts of the capital, advisers told a special meeting of the council of advisers yesterday.
According to an official handout, Adviser for Health and Family Welfare Major General (retd) ASM Matiur Rahman and Adviser for Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock CS Karim informed the meeting that "Avian Influenza virus has been detected in a poultry farm in Savar recently".

Samples were sent on an urgent basis to Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute and also to the National Institute of Animal Health in Bangkok for confirmation.

"The results showed the existence of influenza virus of the H5N1 variety," the meeting was further informed.

However, poultry birds infected with H5N1 variety have not been detected anywhere else in the country other than Savar area.

Chaired by Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, the meeting held at his office was apprised that the government has initiated a number of "preemptive and proactive actions to eliminate any possibility of its further proliferation to other places".

The measures include: a) Destruction of poultry birds in the infected areas; b) Restricting the movement of poultry birds within 10-kilometre radius of the affected area;

c) Preventive measures including chemo-profiling of those handling poultry birds;

d) Doctors have already been trained to handle the situation; and e) Opening of control and monitoring cells in the health and fisheries and livestock ministries.

"The government would like to assure that there is no reason for any panic or concern. In fact, poultry birds and eggs can be consumed as usual through normal cooking," says the official announcement, quoting experts.

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