Experts from UN in Bangladesh to investigate B/F

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http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/s1898711.htm

    Experts from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) have arrived in Bangladesh to investigate a recent outbreak of bird flu in poultry and recommend measures to contain it.

The H5N1 bird flu virus has been spreading in poultry flocks in Bangladesh since being detected on six of the country's farms on March 22.

The 10-member FAO team will visit affected farms and laboratories and interview farmers and government specialists over the next two weeks. 

"This mission is to make an assessment and come up with solid recommendations on what are the best ways to contain it, get it stamped out... (so) it will not further spread," Ad Spigkers, FAO representative in Bangladesh, said. 

Compensation for chicken farmers 

Fisheries and livestock ministry officials say new infections were found at a farm in western Jessore district while the other was at Savar near Dhaka, where the avian influenza was first detected last month.

Jessore district is adjacent to West Bengal state of India, where bird flu has also been identified. 

So far 79,000 chickens have been culled on 32 farms in eight districts since the detection of the virus on six farms at Savar. 

The government said on Sunday it would pay $US1 in compensation for each chicken culled. 

Officials say the virus is under control. "Had it not been controlled the virus would have infected all the districts like a wildfire," said Khalilur Rahman Siddiqui, a senior ministry official. 

No humans have tested positive for the disease in densely populated Bangladesh.

The virus is known to have infected nearly 300 people in 12 countries since 2003, killing more than half of them. 

Bangladesh has 125,000 small and large poultry firms producing 250 million broilers and six billion eggs annually. 

About four million Bangladeshis are directly or indirectly associated with poultry farming. 

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Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Experts from UN in Bangladesh to investigate B/F Posted: April 16 2007 at 3:19pm
	http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/s1898711.htm Experts from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) have arrived in Bangladesh to investigate a recent outbreak of bird flu in poultry and recommend measures to contain it. The H5N1 bird flu virus has been spreading in poultry flocks in Bangladesh since being detected on six of the country's farms on March 22. The 10-member FAO team will visit affected farms and laboratories and interview farmers and government specialists over the next two weeks. "This mission is to make an assessment and come up with solid recommendations on what are the best ways to contain it, get it stamped out... (so) it will not further spread," Ad Spigkers, FAO representative in Bangladesh, said. Compensation for chicken farmers Fisheries and livestock ministry officials say new infections were found at a farm in western Jessore district while the other was at Savar near Dhaka, where the avian influenza was first detected last month. Jessore district is adjacent to West Bengal state of India, where bird flu has also been identified. So far 79,000 chickens have been culled on 32 farms in eight districts since the detection of the virus on six farms at Savar. The government said on Sunday it would pay $US1 in compensation for each chicken culled. Officials say the virus is under control. "Had it not been controlled the virus would have infected all the districts like a wildfire," said Khalilur Rahman Siddiqui, a senior ministry official. No humans have tested positive for the disease in densely populated Bangladesh. The virus is known to have infected nearly 300 people in 12 countries since 2003, killing more than half of them. Bangladesh has 125,000 small and large poultry firms producing 250 million broilers and six billion eggs annually. About four million Bangladeshis are directly or indirectly associated with poultry farming.