Bangladesh: Bird Flu in ANIMALS/POULTRY Feb/6/2008-Feb/28/2008

[HenryN]

Bird Flu Related Information up to 09 February, 2008

1. No. of Farms with confirmed H5 Virus 131
2. No. of Districts with Confirmed H5 Virus 40
(Upzilla-65, Metro Thana-09)

( Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayangonj, Tangail, Jamalpur, Jessore, Noakhali, Gaibandha, Magura, Rajbari, Nilphamari, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Jaipurhat, Lalmonirhat, Thakurgaon, Naogaon, Bagura, Feni, Pabna, Kurigram, Moulvibazar, Barisal, Rajshahi, Barguna, Natore, Patuakhali, Netrokona, Bhola, Khulna, Manikgonj, Gopalgonj, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Kustia, Jhinaidah, Norsingdhi, Bagerhat, Chittagong, Kishoregonj)

3. No. of Culled Farms 228

(Dhaka-33 (Savar-26, Turagh-01, Demra-01, Mirpur-03, Shabujbagh-01, Lalbagh-01), Gazipur-05, Jamalpur-05, Narayangonj-15, Tangail-01, Jessore-11, Noakhali-02, Gaibandha-04, Magura-01, Rajbari-03, Nilphamari-10, Dinajpur-28, Rangpur-06, jaipurhat-04, Lalmonirhat-04, Thakurgaon-02, Naogaon-02, Bagura-01, Feni-07, Pabna-03, Kurigram-01, Moulvibazar-01, Barisal-02, Barguna-16, Rajshahi-03, Natore-01, Patuakhali-01, Netrokona-01, Bhola-08, Manikgonj-03, Mymensingh-03, Gopalgonj-01, Khulna-03, Sylhet-01, Jhinaidah-03, Kustia-01, Norsingdhi-19, Bagerhat-02, Chittagong-06, Kishoregonj-05)

4. Culled on 09/02/2008 __

5. Culling up to 09/02/2008 5, 59, 868

http://www.mofl.gov.bd/daily_birdflu_report.pdf

[Snowy Owl]

Rats destroy crops in Bangladesh

By Mark Dummett BBC News, Dhaka The rat plague is expected twice a century A plague of rats has destroyed the crops of tens of thousands of people living in Bangladesh's remote Chittagong Hill Tracts. Aid workers have warned that the destruction of crop has left the people in a "near-famine situation". The rat population has soared in recent weeks as they feed off the region's bamboo forests, which are blossoming for the first time in decades. Neighbouring states in India have suffered from the same problem. According to the UN Development Programme (UNDP) about 150,000 people living in the hills along the country's south-eastern border with India have been affected. Prasenjit Chakma of the UNDP, who has visited the area, told the BBC that people there had been reduced to eating roots to survive, but even these are now running out. 'Disaster zone' He said fields had been stripped of their plants, and are now dotted with large rat holes. "The rats are much bigger than usual. They eat everything that is fresh and green," he said. The rodents have multiplied at an alarming rate - the bamboo blossom is such a good food source for them that when they eat it they can breed up to eight times a year - four times more often than normal. According to local folklore, the flowering of the bamboo, and the subsequent surge in rat numbers, occurs every 50 years. They say the last time it happened was 1958. People across the border in India share this same belief - and the same problem. In Mizoram state, the bamboo began to blossom last year. The government there declared it a disaster zone after the rats went on to eat people's food stocks. Here, the authorities and relief agencies have begun to get some aid to the hungry, but they admit it is not yet enough, and that the problem is spreading, as more forests start flowering. Mr Chakma said the region will face problems for the next three to four years, until the rat population declines. He said there are so many of them, it is difficult for the farmers to kill enough to make a difference. "The situation is very serious. The people living in that region are very poor anyway. It is now a near famine situation," he said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7234213.stm

[HenryN]

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/02...desh_Jump.html

[HenryN]

3,000 fowls culled in Tangail Our Correspondent, Tangail A total of 3,000 fowls and 1,700 eggs infected by bird flu were culled and destroyed at a poultry farm at Madhupur upazila in Tangail district early yesterday morning. In addition, officials of the Livestock Department have also culled poultry including chicken, ducks and quails from different households within a kilometre radius of the infected farm. The presence of bird flu infection was first suspected after poultry started dying at the farm of Mohammad Jahangir Alam of Malauri village in Madhupur Municipal area. The dead chickens were sent to the Animal Resource Research Institute, which confirmed the presence of the virus. The District Livestock Department and Madhupur Upazila administration then arranged the culling. The poultry farm owner said he has incurred losses of about Tk 30 lakh. http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=22945

[Treyfish]

Monday, February 11, 2008 07:44 AM GMT+06:00

Click here for Printer Friendly Version Front Page Rats Damage Crops CHT people facing acute food crisis Shantimoy Chakma, from Hupbang, Barkal, Rangamati and Monirul Islam Monu, Bandarban People in remote areas of Rangamati and Bandarban in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) are facing a severe food crisis following the recent invasion of rats on their jhum crop fields. Indigenous people in Chhotomerung, Ramghar, Dighinala, Panchhari, Guimara Laxmichhari of Khagrachhari, Thanchi, Alikadam, Lama, Ruma and Nikhiyangchhari in Bandarban have been passing days practically half-fed and many of them are living on jungle potato. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), 766 families in Bandarban--363 in Ruma upazila, 295 in Thanchi and 108 in Roangchhari upazila--lost their yearly production. But locals claimed that about 1,800 families in the hill district have been affected by the invasion of rats. They also alleged that no block supervisors under the district DAE yet visited the affected areas. The DAE has meanwhile launched a programme to exterminate rats from February 3 across the country. However, district DAE Deputy Director Abdullah Ibrahim said no special measures were taken for the affected areas in CHT. Many jhum farmers in Rangamati have meanwhile left their homes and took shelter at their relatives' while a few even left for India hearing that the Indian government is providing food and financial assistance, sources said. Special Assistant to the chief adviser Devasish Roy visited the pest-hit areas in Hupbang of Barkal upazila and assured people of assistance through test relief and food-for-work programmes. But no steps have so far been taken, locals alleged. Rats in large numbers have invaded fields of turmeric, ginger and other jhum crops in Hubbang, Majhirpara, Thalchhara, Bhudorijipara, Kukichhara, Jarolchhari, Ranalpara and Kusumchhari in Barkal upazila, Noapara in Longudu upazila, Ruilui, Konglak, Oldlankar in Baghaichhari upazila, Rayingkhiyang Borthalipara in Bilaichhari upazila, and Dumdumiya in Jurachhari upazila of Rangamati. Vast paddy fields came under such attack a couple of months ago. Porandhan Chakma of Hubbang village said he went to market to buy rice but had to return home empty-handed as there was no rice in the market. "My family has been passing days almost half-fed, sometimes eating jungle potatoes, sometimes even starving," he said. Purnendu Chakma and Shimul Chakma of Thalchhar said they have been living on jungle potatoes for the last few months, but those have also become rare now. They said they used to collect bamboo to earn livelihood, but this year bamboos have also withered because of flowering and fruition. Usually, bamboos come into blossom every 50 years following which they wither quickly. Karbari Shantibikash Chakma of Shuknochhari of Baroharina union said, "I sowed five tins [50kg] of paddy this year. I anticipated a good harvest, but the harvest was so small it only lasted for half a month." Kripa Kumar Chakma and Buddhamoni Chakma of Kukichhara of Barkal urged the government to arrange interest-free bank loans for them to overcome the current crisis. "We went to the Krishi Bank at Barkal upazila sadar but the officials said they do not have adequate money to provide loan," they said. A field worker of the bank said they have limited budgets for different sectors but the demand is very high. He, however, said they will provide loans when budgets will be available. Lal Bug Pankhua, headman of Halamba, said they can survive about six-seven months with the jhum paddy. "All my jhum fields were destroyed by rats this year," he said. The headman said they met the army brigade commander at the district headquarters for financial assistance but he said they do not have enough fund. Zophui Thang Tripura, headman of Shiandai mouja, said in the wake of the food crisis many families of the village and the neighbourhood have left for India hearing that the Indian government is providing food. "Nobody is paying any heed to our misery," he said. Meanwhile, Rangamati Hill District Council has distributed Tk 6 lakh from the CHT affairs ministry allocation--Tk 4 lakh in Baghaichhari and Tk 2 lakh in Bilaichhari. The council has also made a proposal to the CHT affairs ministry for a three-year horticulture development programme for providing assistance to the indigenous people of the rats-hit areas. "We will start the work when the project is approved," said Arunendu Tripura, PRO of the council. Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Md Nurul Amin said, "We have no specific programme for the people in the rats-infested areas, but I hope our Special Assistant to chief adviser Devasish Roy will do something for these people as he himself visited the affected areas." He said the VGF, VGD and OMS programmes are going on in the district. BANDABRBAN Cha Swe Marma of Nachalongpara in Roangchhari upazila, Kew Ching Aong of Daluchhari, U Kew Nue and Hiru Moni Tripura of Antahapara under the same upazila said they lost most of their harvest in the rat-invasion and that with the remaining rice they may survive only three months. They said each family recently got Tk 1,000 only from the CHT affairs ministry through the Bandarban Hill District Council. The CHT affairs ministry has already allocated Tk 5 lakh while Bandarban Hill District Council allocated Tk 3 lakh for distribution among the 766 affected families. Money was distributed in Ruma on January 14 and in Roangchhari on January 31. Meanwhile, about 150 families in the areas including Paoapara, Monirampara, Zotiyapara and Kristapara are still out of the DAE list of affected families and have not received any government support yet. "Since there was no help, most families in the area have left their homes," said Sambhu Kumar Tanchangya, chairman of Noapatang Union Parishad. http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=22891

[Treyfish]

Monday, February 11, 2008 07:38 AM GMT+06:00

Click here for Printer Friendly Version Letters Bird flu Nasar, On e-mail Photo: AFP Bird flu has not only created health hazards but also made a very unfavourable impact on the rural economy, where thousands of affected chickens have been culled to prevent possible transmission of the decease to humans. Though the farm chickens are the main source of bearing germs through which bird flu is penetrating into the country, the migrated birds may have played a vital role in this respect. Border points are the most unprotected and exposed areas for easy spreading of the deadly disease. By this time thousands of chickens have been culled in the farms and many preventative methods have been applied to stop further infection. The government's immediate steps to control possible aggravation is well recognised but what we observe is lack of appropriate initiative in the process of alerting the local people on the possible hazards. There is still a strong belief that this bird flu cannot be transmitted to local chickens and other types of local birds. Therefore we strongly feel that the government's livestock dept. should immediately take appropriate steps to print easily understandable pictorial displays and circulate the same all over the country in an easy and simple language to make people aware of the hazard and its consequential effects on humans and livestock, especially on home birds and other pet animals. Under no circumstances should the dead or culled chickens be sold in the market. The government should also arrange basic training for the farm owners on the hazard and its management.

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=22822

[Treyfish]

Dhaka City Corporation places barrels at the city's kitchen markets, asking people to dump dead fowls in it to prevent spreading of avian influenza. Photo: STAR http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=22919

[Treyfish]

Death of crows not unusual
this season: DCC official
Control room records 10 deaths Sunday
Staff Correspondent
The Dhaka City Corporation control room is being swamped with news of crow deaths with officials saying that such deaths are not unusual in this period of the year.
DCC officials reaffirmed that crows found dead so far did not bear any sign of avian influenza.
The corporation’s control room, set up on Friday, recorded 10 crow deaths Sunday and sent samples to the Central Disease Institute Laboratory for test.
‘We received news of more deaths of crows in different parts including Holy Family Red Crescent Hospital, Central Shahid Minar and Rampura areas,’ an official said Sunday. Those were buried at a designated place.
‘Crows normally die in this season. Death of one or two crows at a place does not mean that bird flu is there,’ he said.
Things could be seen alarming if a good number of crows are found dead at a place, he, however, said.
Chief health officer of the corporation Showkat Ali told New Age on Friday that no bird flu virus had been detected in the dead crows, which were found in a Gulshan park and some other places in the city last week.
Poultry traders at different kitchen markets in the city were found using the containers for dumping wastes of fowls, slaughtered for sale. The corporation supplied the covered containers to 50 kitchen markets on Saturday and initiated campaigns to motivate traders to use those for their personal and public health safety.
The central monitoring committee headed by chief veterinary officer of Central Veterinary Hospital Dr Mosaddek Hossain on Sunday held a meeting with poultry traders at Sayedabad as part of the campaigns for raising awareness about bio-security of the kitchen markets.
‘We have held the meeting as part of our job to aware the people and businessmen to take safety measures. We will have more meetings with poultry traders in major kitchen markets in all the 10 zones of DCC,’ said a corporation official. http://www.newagebd.com/met.html

[Treyfish]

Steps taken to check bird flu
spread in Hakaluki Haor
Our Correspondent . Moulvibazar
The authorities concerned have taken preventive measures to contain possible spread of avian influenza from guest birds in Hakaluki Haor in Moulvibazar.
The authorities have also examined samples of different species of guest birds in the lake, but no strain of bird flu has yet been detected.
Medicines are being sprayed on fowls and eggs that enter the district. The administration has also barred entry of poultry birds into the district without valid documents. Five dead crows were found at Srimangal on Saturday.
The Department of Environment office at Kulaura said more than a lakh guest birds usually fly over to Hakaluki Haor every year. The department said it has been put in place measures since 2006 to check against the spread of possible strain of avian influenza.
The department programme includes holding community meetings, distribution of leaflets, and putting signs at the entrances to the lake.
A teacher of the Bangladesh Agricultural University, Aminul Haque, along with some of his students visited Hakaluki Haor in the last week of January and collected samples of guest birds and other aquatic birds for examination of bird flu virus strain, the environment department said.
Officials at the Department of Livestock Services said they had been spraying medicines in and around the lake. Restrictions have been ordered or entry of flows into the district without clearance documents. Residents of Srimangal said they had found five dead crows in an area of the town on Saturday.
District livestock services officer Abdul Awal Bhuyan said they had found only one dead crow, but no strain of bird flu was detected. The crow as buried deep into the soil. http://www.newagebd.com/met.html

[Treyfish]

Bird flu updated : Dead crows on campus


Sunday February 10 2008 09:55:07 AM BDT


A large number of crows were found dead in the city yesterday. At least three dead crows were also found in Dhaka University area. Indian laboratories may soon start testing samples from Bangladesh to identify the H5N1 avian influenza virus.(New NationBD)

India is planning to ask the Bangladesh government crippled by a severe bird flu outbreak, to send ground samples to the laboratories there for rapid testing and genetic sequencing.

Syed Ataur Rahman, Secretary of Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, said that samples are being sent all the way to the OIE Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza in Weybridge in UK for testing.

"Bangladesh does not have its own facility to genetically sequence virus strains. That's why samples are being continuously sent to Thailand and UK," he said.

India has world-class bio-security level (BSL) III and IV laboratories, like the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL) in Bhopal and National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune.

Meanwhile, Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) has set up a control room in the DCC on Friday to receive any information on the outbreak of bird-flu and called for the removal and disposal of the dead chicken, duck, pigeon or crows found in the city area.

An emergency review meeting of the DCC yesterday took the decision for setting up of the control room with telephone numbers 9556014 and 9004734.

Veterinary officer of the DCC Dr Azmat Ali will be in charge of the control room.

Dr Azmat said, "The meeting decided to provide special drum and container in 50 kitchen markets in the capital city to dump the dead fowls and leftovers of the poultry birds and carry the wastes in special container to Matuail landfill to bury.

The meeting discussed the programmes jointly taken by the DCC and Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock in the city to control the outbreak of the bird-flu.

The H5N1 virus was first detected in Bangladesh in March 2007. Since then, over 39 districts out of 64 of the country have been affected by bird flu.

Pradeep Kumar, Animal Husbandry Secretary of India, said that India was planning to extend a helping hand to its neighbouring countries in testing their samples, said Dr Azmat.

http://bangladesh-web.com/view.php?hidRecord=186993

[Laidback Al]

The map below represent a close approximation to the geographic distribution of districts in Bangladesh that have had confirmed H5N1 infections in avian fauna as reported in Post #141 above.

[HenryN]

Bird Flu Related Information up to 10 February, 2008

1. No. of Farms with confirmed H5 Virus 135
2. No. of Districts with Confirmed H5 Virus 40
(Upzilla-69, Metro Thana-10)

( Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayangonj, Tangail, Jamalpur, Jessore, Noakhali, Gaibandha, Magura, Rajbari, Nilphamari, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Jaipurhat, Lalmonirhat, Thakurgaon, Naogaon, Bagura, Feni, Pabna, Kurigram, Moulvibazar, Barisal, Rajshahi, Barguna, Natore, Patuakhali, Netrokona, Bhola, Khulna, Manikgonj, Gopalgonj, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Kustia, Jhinaidah, Norsingdhi, Bagerhat, Chittagong, Kishoregonj)

3. No. of Culled Farms 232

(Dhaka-33 (Savar-26, Turagh-01, Demra-01, Mirpur-03, Shabujbagh-01, Lalbagh-01), Gazipur-05, Jamalpur-05, Narayangonj-15, Tangail-02, Jessore-11, Noakhali-02, Gaibandha-04, Magura-01, Rajbari-03, Nilphamari-11, Dinajpur-28, Rangpur-06, jaipurhat-04, Lalmonirhat-04, Thakurgaon-02, Naogaon-02, Bagura-01, Feni-08, Pabna-03, Kurigram-01, Moulvibazar-01, Barisal-02, Barguna-16, Rajshahi-03, Natore-01, Patuakhali-01, Netrokona-01, Bhola-08, Manikgonj-03, Mymensingh-03, Gopalgonj-01, Khulna-03, Sylhet-01, Jhinaidah-03, Kustia-01, Norsingdhi-19, Bagerhat-02, Chittagong-07, Kishoregonj-05)

4. Culled on 10/02/2008 ---

5. Culling up to 10/02/2008 5, 69, 248

http://www.mofl.gov.bd/daily_birdflu_report.pdf

[AlaskaDenise]

Originally Posted by niman

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/02...desh_Jump.html

Commentary

Dramatic Jump in H5N1 in Bangladesh

Recombinomics Commentary 18:18
February 10, 2008

The expanded culling in Bangladesh signals more spread of H5N1, as indicated in the latest daily report from the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries. In the February 9 report, the number of farms with confirmed H5 jumped from 121 to 131. The number of confirmed districts rose from 38 to 40 (Chittagong and Kishoregonj). The number of culled farms rose from 202 to 228 (see satellite maps here here here). This dramatic jump was on top of the jump from 179 to 202 culled farms in the February 6 report.

The increase in farms culled from 179 to 228 indicates H5N1 is spreading rapidly in Bangladesh, including areas which border West Bengal. However, West Bengal is reporting a dramatic reduction in excessive poultry deaths. The confirmation of H5N1 in crows in Bangaldesh in regions bordering West Bengal, cast serious doubt on the West Bengal lack of reported outbreaks. In the past West Bengal maintained a low level of new outbreaks by simply not testing dead birds. Moreover, India has never reported H5n1 in resident or migratory wild birds, even though excessive deaths in association with H5N1 poultry have been confirmed.

At this stage the reports of H5N1 spread in India appear to be little more than a public relations game.


.

[Treyfish]

Around 5,000 fowls culled in Bogra

Around 5,000 poultry and domestic fowls were culled at Khalishakandi village in Shahjahanpur upazila in Bogra early Monday after detection of avian influenza. Over 1,500 chickens of Mollah poultry farm and 3,500 domestic fowls including ducks, chickens and pigeons within one- km area of the farm were culled in presence of local administration and livestock officials. Later, the dead fowls were buried underneath the ground. Local sources said the owner of Mollah poultry farm, following the death of some chickens in his farm for last few days, first sent the sample of the dead chickens to local livestock hospital where bird flu could not be detected. But, as the samples were sent to Dhaka for test on Saturday avian influenza was detected and the Livestock Department conducted the culling operation on Sunday midnight. http://www.bangladeshinfo.com/news/o...hp?othid=44957

[HenryN]

Bird Flu Related Information up to 11 February, 2008

1. No. of Farms with confirmed H5 Virus 138
2. No. of Districts with Confirmed H5 Virus 40
(Upzilla-71, Metro Thana-10)

( Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayangonj, Tangail, Jamalpur, Jessore, Noakhali, Gaibandha, Magura, Rajbari, Nilphamari, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Jaipurhat, Lalmonirhat, Thakurgaon, Naogaon, Bagura, Feni, Pabna, Kurigram, Moulvibazar, Barisal, Rajshahi, Barguna, Natore, Patuakhali, Netrokona, Bhola, Khulna, Manikgonj, Gopalgonj, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Kustia, Jhinaidah, Norsingdhi, Bagerhat, Chittagong, Kishoregonj)

3. No. of Culled Farms 235

(Dhaka-34 (Savar-26, Turagh-01, Demra-01, Mirpur-03, Shabujbagh-01, Lalbagh-01, Nobabgonj-01), Gazipur-06, Jamalpur-05, Narayangonj-15, Tangail-02, Jessore-11, Noakhali-02, Gaibandha-04, Magura-01, Rajbari-03, Nilphamari-11, Dinajpur-28, Rangpur-06, jaipurhat-04, Lalmonirhat-04, Thakurgaon-02, Naogaon-02, Bagura-02, Feni-08, Pabna-03, Kurigram-01, Moulvibazar-01, Barisal-02, Barguna-16, Rajshahi-03, Natore-01, Patuakhali-01, Netrokona-01, Bhola-08, Manikgonj-03, Mymensingh-03, Gopalgonj-01, Khulna-03, Sylhet-01, Jhinaidah-03, Kustia-01, Norsingdhi-19, Bagerhat-02, Chittagong-07, Kishoregonj-05)

4. Culled on 11/02/2008 ---

5. Culling up to 11/02/2008 5, 76, 511

http://www.mofl.gov.bd/daily_birdflu_report.pdf

[HenryN]

Test Articles News
Bangladesh seeks Chinese help in anti-bird flu campaign
By DPA
Feb 12, 2008, 13:50 GMT

Dhaka - Bangladesh struggling to control a raging bird flu epidemic in poultry farms across the country has sought Chinese help in vaccinating unaffected fowls in a desperate move to stop the further march of the scourge, media reports said Tuesday.
The Chinese strategy of rolling back the disaster centres on the deployment of a preventive vaccine created by researchers in China which has been claimed to be effective against the H5N1 bird flu virus, the daily Bangladesh Observer said.
The H5N1, called the Avian Influenza virus, is held responsible for the death of billions of chickens in both poultry farms and backyard gardens around the world since 2003.
'The government is likely to seek Chinese assistance for better tackling the virus spreading fast in the country and risking public health,' the newspaper said.
Over half a million poultry birds have been culled at different places in the country since the first outbreak of the virus in Bangladesh in February 2006.
Livestock officials in the capital Dhaka were reviewing other ways of facing the epidemic more effectively and less costly than slaughtering the infected fowls and incinerating their carcasses.
Experts said the probability of human infection rises when the disease becomes endemic among fowl in densely populated places.
Bangladesh was yet to detect a human infection by the bird flu virus, but experts fear the virus might mutate to facilitate entry into the human body.


http://www.monstersandcritics.com/te...er_1390942.php

[HenryN]

Bird flu strikes another Bangladesh district
13 Feb 2008 13:03:42 GMT
Source: Reuters

DHAKA, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Bird flu has spread to another district in Bangladesh despite efforts by authorities to control it, officials said on Wednesday, bringing the number of affected districts to 41 out of 64.
Health workers culled nearly 1,100 fowl after tests confirmed some chickens had died from the avian influenza virus in western Meherpur, livestock officials said.
The H5N1 virus, first detected in Bangladesh in March last year, was quickly brought under control through aggressive measures, including culling. But it reappeared few months ago apparently because of lax follow-up monitoring, experts say.
So far no human infections have been reported in Bangladesh, a densely populated nation with millions of backyard poultry and thousands of chicken farms.
The government has raised compensation for poultry farmers to encourage them to report and kill sick birds as part of efforts to stamp out the outbreak. Nearly 600,000 birds have been culled across the country against the virus since March 2007, but it continues to spread and now covers nearly two-thirds of the country of more than 140 million people.
Officials blame lack of awareness among poultry breeders and non-compliance with warnings by the health ministry as main reasons for the spread of the virus.
The World Health Organization fears that the H5N1 strain, which has already killed more than 220 people worldwide since 2003, could mutate or combine with the highly contagious seasonal influenza virus and spark a pandemic that could kill millions of people. (Reporting by Ruma Paul; Editing by David Fox)

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/DHA160223.htm

[HenryN]

Bird Flu Related Information up to 12 February, 2008

1. No. of Farms with confirmed H5 Virus 140
2. No. of Districts with Confirmed H5 Virus 40
(Upzilla-72, Metro Thana-11)

( Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayangonj, Tangail, Jamalpur, Jessore, Noakhali, Gaibandha, Magura, Rajbari, Nilphamari, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Jaipurhat, Lalmonirhat, Thakurgaon, Naogaon, Bagura, Feni, Pabna, Kurigram, Moulvibazar, Barisal, Rajshahi, Barguna, Natore, Patuakhali, Netrokona, Bhola, Khulna, Manikgonj, Gopalgonj, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Kustia, Jhinaidah, Norsingdhi, Bagerhat, Chittagong, Kishoregonj, Meherpur)

3. No. of Culled Farms 239

(Dhaka-35 (Savar-26, Turagh-01, Demra-01, Mirpur-03, Shabujbagh-01, Lalbagh-01, Nobabgonj-02), Gazipur-06, Jamalpur-05, Narayangonj-15, Tangail-02, Jessore-11, Noakhali-02, Gaibandha-04, Magura-01, Rajbari-03, Nilphamari-11, Dinajpur-28, Rangpur-06, jaipurhat-04, Lalmonirhat-04, Thakurgaon-02, Naogaon-02, Bagura-02, Feni-08, Pabna-03, Kurigram-01, Moulvibazar-01, Barisal-02, Barguna-16, Rajshahi-03, Natore-01, Patuakhali-01, Netrokona-01, Bhola-08, Manikgonj-03, Mymensingh-03, Gopalgonj-01, Khulna-03, Sylhet-01, Jhinaidah-03, Kustia-01, Norsingdhi-19, Bagerhat-02, Chittagong-08, Kishoregonj-05, Meherpur-02)

4. Culled on 12/02/2008 ---

5. Culling up to 12/02/2008 5, 81, 286

http://www.mofl.gov.bd/daily_birdflu_report.pdf

[Treyfish]

Bird flu update: Govt may seek Chinese help to combat bird flu


Chittagong Correspondent

The government is likely to seek Chinese assistance for better tackling the Avian Influenza Virus (AIV), key reason of flu among fowls, now spreading fast in the country and risking public health.

The H5N1--Avian Influenza Virus - claimed more than 200 lives in Asia, Europe and Middle East since 2003.

Probability of human infection by the virus grows faster as the prevalence of the virus is endemic particularly in the densely populated places.

Nearly half a million poultry birds have so far been culled in the country since the outbreak of the H5N1 virus in 2006. But no human being has been tested positive for the virus so far.

Informed livestock officials said that experts had been reviewing the most successful strategies formulated for best tackling the bird flu disaster among the neighbouring nations.

According to an expert the government may try replication of the Chinese strategy in fighting back the bird flu disaster as the credit of developing the most effective vaccine against H5N1 virus goes to the Chinese researchers.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is learnt to have approved that Chinese bird flu vaccine was tested most effective against the H5N1 virus. The vaccine helped protect a vast segment of fowls and poultry when bird flu broke out in China two years ago.

The WHO finally decided to back up China's plan to vaccinate billions of poultry birds. Replication of Chinese model of vaccination here in Bangladesh, as experts think, will dramatically reduce the likelihood of bird flu spread.

Senior veterinarians say chickens usually die within 24 hours of being infected with H5N1 virus but, without signs of disease, the virus is hard to detect, control and also much easier to pass on to unsuspecting humans. http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/200...3/news0438.htm

[Treyfish]

---

Govt terms avian influenza situation `pre-pandemic': US to provide 24,500 more PPE

DHAKA, Bangladesh, Feb 13 (BSS) - Bangladesh government at a high-level meeting today termed the bird flu situation as `pre-pandemic' and sought support from development partners to contain the disease that already affected 41 districts since February last year. "Bangladesh is in the pre-pandemic condition now as 140 outbreaks of bird flu have occurred during last one year," Dr Mehedi Hussain of Department of Livestock said on a power point presentation at a meeting here. Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock organised the meeting to review the ongoing prevention and control measures of bird flu, which has forced authorities to cull 581,286 chickens, ducks, pigeons and destroy as many eggs during last 12 months in the country. Chief Adviser's Special Assistant for Livestock Manik Lal Samaddar, Livestock Secretary Ataur Rahman, Mission Director of US Agency for International Development (USAID) Denise Rollins, Food and Agriculture Representative of the UN to Bangladesh AD Spijkers, Country Representative of World Health Organization Duangvade Sangkhobol and representatives from the UNICEF, Asian Development Bank and European Commission were present. "You are not alone, We are with you," assured FAO representative Ad Spijkers at the meeting, adding that the present communication strategy was inadequate to make people aware and protect the poultry sector. He said the communication programme should be revised and revitalized. He also said a concerted effort is a must to keep the situation under full control, without giving any chance to turn it into a pandemic situation, where H5N1 virus can transmit from human to human. USAID Mission Director Rollins said her government and the US Army have already sent 16,500 personal protection equipment (PPE) to Bangladesh and 24,500 more would reach by March. "I can assure that 4,500 PPE will reach by February 22 and the rest 20,000 by March," she said, adding that a core team on communication should be formed so that it can help develop emergency communication strategies to face future risks. Manik Lal said the risk communication has become a major issue to tackle the present situation where effective communication materials can remove fears from the minds of people to consume poultry foods as usual. The poultry consumption has been witnessing a sharp decline after recent outbreaks across the country, he added. "Please convey the message that fully-boiled eggs and chicken meats are safe to eat," he said at the meeting, apparently pointing to the UNICEF that has been developing communication materials. He also said the government has been putting more emphasis on biosecurity measures at farms and mass awareness. Ataur Rahman said the government has been attaching high importance to protecting the poultry sector, which has about 220 million chickens, and 37 million ducks and employs five million people directly. Millions of households also rely on poultry production for income and food. He sought suggestions and cooperation from development partners to face the situation. Livestock ministry sources said they are in need of community animal health workers (CAHW) at field levels, 20,000 more PPE, 7,000 hand gloves, 7,000 masks, 160 vehicles, detection kits and improved lab facilities to control the disease at the earliest. On a demand from the government, the FAO and Palli Karma Shahayak Protishthan (PKSF) promised to provide 450 CAHW on an adhoc basis up to June this year.

http://www.bssnews.net/index.php?gen...008-02-13&id=7

[Treyfish]

[url="http://www.thedailystar.net/pf_story.php?nid=23294"]
22,000 fowls culled in 2 districts

Star Report

A total of 22,127 fowls were culled in Pabna and Khulna on Tuesday night as bird flu infection continues to spread in different regions of the country.

Our Pabna correspondent reports that at least 5,272 farm fowls, ducks, pigeons and other free range fowls were culled in Shujanagar upazila of the district on Tuesday night after bird flu infection was detected at a poultry farm.

This is the third consecutive incident of culling fowls due to bird flu infection in the district in the last three months.

Meanwhile over three hundred poultry farms remain closed in the district due to bird flu infection, official sources said.

This round of culling was arranged after about a thousand fowls died at Usha Poultry Farm in Vabanipur under Shujanagar municipality. Joypurhat Livestock Research Institute confirmed the presence of the H5N1 virus, which causes bird flu, in the dead fowls.

Livestock office sources said they culled 4,946 fowls and destroyed 3,153 eggs at the farm. The team also culled over 181 free range fowls, 18 ducks and 137 pigeons from different households within one kilometre radius of the affected farm.

Local administration has imposed red alert in this area.

Our Khulna correspondent adds: Khulna district livestock department has culled 13,702 fowls from 73 poultry farms during a massive operation in the city on Tuesday night.

The operation was carried out at Shabujbag and Shahanghat areas under Sonadanga thana of the metropolitan city. The team also destroyed 763 eggs.

This is the second time such an operation has been carried out in the city. The earlier operation was carried out on January 30.

Anisuzzaman Panna, president of Khulna District Poultry Farm Owners Association, said that he believes that bird flu infection is fast reaching epidemic proportions in the area.

The disease, if not checked, will wipe out poultry industries in the district and city, he said.

[HenryN]

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/02...edibility.html

[Niko]

Originally Posted by niman

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/02...edibility.html

Commentary

H5N1 Spead In Bangladesh Raises Credibility Issues in India

Recombinomics Commentary 19:37
February 13, 2008

Our Khulna correspondent adds: Khulna district livestock department has culled 13,702 fowls from 73 poultry farms during a massive operation in the city on Tuesday night.

Anisuzzaman Panna, president of Khulna District Poultry Farm Owners Association, said that he believes that bird flu infection is fast reaching epidemic proportions in the area.

The above comments describe one of the culling operations in Bangladesh. Daily updates from the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock describe multiple culling operations throughout the country each day.

The latest report increases the number of districts with confirmed H5N1 to 41. The latest addition Mehepur is on the western border shared with West Bengal (see satellite maps here here here). In the past week, the number of cullings since H5N1 was first reported almost a year ago jumped from 179 to 239 and the number of districts has increased from 37 to 41.

While these dramatic increases were being reported in Bangladesh, including multiple districts that share a border with West Bengal, India has been denying new outbreaks and has been winding down culling operations, although precautionary culling has been on going in regions adjacent to West Bengal, even though the adjacent regions have not reported H5N1 outbreaks.

The absence of reported new infections in West Bengal raise serious credibility issues. Bangladesh has confirmed H5N1 in wild birds, including thousands of crow deaths in border regions. Although West Bengal has also reported dead crows, they have yet to confirm H5N1 in any wild bird. The deaths or resident dead birds are in addition to migratory birds, which have died with bird flu symptoms, yet India has never reported an H5N1 positive wild, even though the birds that winter in India fly to China, Russia, and Mongolia in the spring and summer to sites where H5N1 in migratory birds have been confirmed.

Similarly, neither Bangladesh nor India has ever reported a human case of H5N1, even though H5N1 is widespread in both countries, and villagers engage in risky activities and develop bird flu symptoms.

The lack of human cases in both countries or positive wild birds in India, remain causes for concern.

[Niko]

February 14, 2008

Thursday

Safar 06, 1429

Bird flu strikes another BD district

DHAKA: Bird flu has spread to another district in Bangladesh despite efforts by authorities to control it, officials said on Wednesday, bringing the number of affected districts to 41 out of 64.

Health workers culled nearly 1,100 fowl after tests confirmed some chickens had died from the avian influenza virus in western Meherpur, livestock officials said.

The H5N1 virus, first detected in Bangladesh in March last year, was quickly brought under control through aggressive measures, including culling. But it reappeared few months ago apparently because of lax follow-up monitoring, experts say.

So far no human infections have been reported in Bangladesh. The government has raised compensation for poultry farmers to encourage them to report and kill sick birds as part of efforts to stamp out the outbreak.

Nearly 600,000 birds have been culled across the country against the virus since March 2007, but it continues to spread and now covers nearly two-thirds of the country of more than 140 million people.

Officials blame lack of awareness among poultry breeders and non-compliance with warnings by the health ministry as main reasons for the spread of the virus.—Reuters

[HenryN]

1. No. of Farms with confirmed H5 Virus 145
2. No. of Districts with Confirmed H5 Virus 41
(Upzilla-75, Metro Thana-12)

( Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayangonj, Tangail, Jamalpur, Jessore, Noakhali, Gaibandha, Magura, Rajbari, Nilphamari, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Jaipurhat, Lalmonirhat, Thakurgaon, Naogaon, Bagura, Feni, Pabna, Kurigram, Moulvibazar, Barisal, Rajshahi, Barguna, Natore, Patuakhali, Netrokona, Bhola, Khulna, Manikgonj, Gopalgonj, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Kustia, Jhinaidah, Norsingdhi, Bagerhat, Chittagong, Kishoregonj, Meherpur)

3. No. of Culled Farms 252

(Dhaka-35 (Savar-26, Turagh-01, Demra-01, Mirpur-03, Shabujbagh-01, Lalbagh-01, Nobabgonj-02), Gazipur-06, Jamalpur-06, Narayangonj-15, Tangail-02, Jessore-11, Noakhali-02, Gaibandha-04, Magura-01, Rajbari-03, Nilphamari-11, Dinajpur-29, Rangpur-06, jaipurhat-04, Lalmonirhat-04, Thakurgaon-02, Naogaon-02, Bagura-02, Feni-08, Pabna-04, Kurigram-01, Moulvibazar-01, Barisal-02, Barguna-16, Rajshahi-03, Natore-01, Patuakhali-01, Netrokona-01, Bhola-08, Manikgonj-03, Mymensingh-03, Gopalgonj-01, Khulna-13, Sylhet-01, Jhinaidah-03, Kustia-01, Norsingdhi-19, Bagerhat-02, Chittagong-08, Kishoregonj-05, Meherpur-02)

4. Culled on 13/02/2008 ---

5. Culling up to 13/02/2008 6, 03, 623

http://www.mofl.gov.bd/daily_birdflu_report.pdf

[HenryN]

The above list shows of jump in the farms culled from 239 to 252. Ten of the thirteen new culls were in Khulna, which jumped from 3 to 13.

[sharon sanders]

".....
Bird Flu Spreads
Bird flu has spread to another district despite efforts by authorities to contain it, taking the number of affected districts to 40, officials said yesterday.
Health workers culled nearly 12,000 fowls after tests confirmed some chickens had died from the avian influenza virus in the northeast, livestock officials said. The H5N1 virus, first detected in Bangladesh in March last year, was quickly brought under control through aggressive measures, including culling. But followup monitoring eased in later months prompting the disease to reappear, experts say.
So far, no human infections have been reported in Bangladesh, a densely populated nation with millions of backyard poultry and thousands of chicken farms.
The interim government has enhanced compensation for poultry farmers to encourage them to report and kill sick birds. More than half a million birds are to be culled across the country, but the virus has spread to more than half the South Asian country’s 64 districts partly due to a lack of awareness.
Media reports said many children were seen smiling and playing with dead poultry. Even health workers have been seen burying dead birds without any protective gear.
The World Health Organization worries that the H5N1 strain could mutate into a form that passes easily between humans and infect and kill millions....."


http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4&sect...=11&m=2&y=2008

[Sally Furniss]

Bird flu spreads to another district

Bird flu has spread to another district in Bangladesh despite massive culling by authorities to contain the outbreak, officials said on Friday, bringing the number of affected districts to 42 out of 64.

Veterinary workers culled nearly 25,000 fowls after tests confirmed some chickens had died from the avian influenza virus in Comilla, in the south east, livestock officials said.

The H5N1 virus, first detected in Bangladesh in March last year, was quickly brought under control through aggressive measures, including culling. But it reappeared few months ago, apparently because of lax follow-up monitoring, experts say.

Officials said the government was taking measures to contain the spread of the disease, but ignorance among millions of farmers across the impoverished country remained a stumbling block.

The government has raised compensation for poultry farmers to encourage them to report and kill sick birds as part of efforts to stamp out the outbreak.

More than 600,000 birds have been culled across the country against the virus since March 2007, but it continues to spread and now covers nearly two-thirds of the country of more than 140 million people.

So far no human infections have been reported in Bangladesh, a densely populated nation with millions of backyard poultry and thousands of chicken farms.

Experts fear the H5N1 strain could mutate or combine with the highly contagious seasonal influenza virus and spark a pandemic, especially in countries such as Bangladesh where people live in close proximity to backyard poultry.

Humans usually contract the virus only after close contact with infected birds, with the virus killing nearly two-thirds of the people it infects. The disease has killed more than 220 people worldwide since 2003.

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/1318360/1584096

[HenryN]

Bird flu spreads to another Bangladesh district

Fri 15 Feb 2008, 4:32 GMT

[-] Text [+]

DHAKA, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Bird flu has spread to another district in Bangladesh despite massive culling by authorities to contain the outbreak, officials said on Friday, bringing the number of affected districts to 42 out of 64.
Veterinary workers culled nearly 25,000 fowls after tests confirmed some chickens had died from the avian influenza virus in Comilla, in the south east, livestock officials said.
The H5N1 virus, first detected in Bangladesh in March last year, was quickly brought under control through aggressive measures, including culling. But it reappeared few months ago, apparently because of lax follow-up monitoring, experts say. Officials said the government was taking measures to contain the spread of the disease, but ignorance among millions of farmers across the impoverished country remained a stumbling block.
The government has raised compensation for poultry farmers to encourage them to report and kill sick birds as part of efforts to stamp out the outbreak.
More than 600,000 birds have been culled across the country against the virus since March 2007, but it continues to spread and now covers nearly two-thirds of the country of more than 140 million people.
So far no human infections have been reported in Bangladesh, a densely populated nation with millions of backyard poultry and thousands of chicken farms.
Experts fear the H5N1 strain could mutate or combine with the highly contagious seasonal influenza virus and spark a pandemic, especially in countries such as Bangladesh where people live in close proximity to backyard poultry.
Humans usually contract the virus only after close contact with infected birds, with the virus killing nearly two-thirds of the people it infects. The disease has killed more than 220 people worldwide since 2003. (Reporting by Ruma Paul; Editing by Alex Richardson)

http://africa.reuters.com/commoditie...DHA255572.html

[HenryN]

Bird Flu Related Information up to 13 February, 2008

1. No. of Farms with confirmed H5 Virus 145
2. No. of Districts with Confirmed H5 Virus 41
(Upzilla-75, Metro Thana-12)

( Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayangonj, Tangail, Jamalpur, Jessore, Noakhali, Gaibandha, Magura, Rajbari, Nilphamari, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Jaipurhat, Lalmonirhat, Thakurgaon, Naogaon, Bagura, Feni, Pabna, Kurigram, Moulvibazar, Barisal, Rajshahi, Barguna, Natore, Patuakhali, Netrokona, Bhola, Khulna, Manikgonj, Gopalgonj, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Kustia, Jhinaidah, Norsingdhi, Bagerhat, Chittagong, Kishoregonj, Meherpur)

3. No. of Culled Farms 252

(Dhaka-35 (Savar-26, Turagh-01, Demra-01, Mirpur-03, Shabujbagh-01, Lalbagh-01, Nobabgonj-02), Gazipur-06, Jamalpur-06, Narayangonj-15, Tangail-02, Jessore-11, Noakhali-02, Gaibandha-04, Magura-01, Rajbari-03, Nilphamari-11, Dinajpur-29, Rangpur-06, jaipurhat-04, Lalmonirhat-04, Thakurgaon-02, Naogaon-02, Bagura-02, Feni-08, Pabna-04, Kurigram-01, Moulvibazar-01, Barisal-02, Barguna-16, Rajshahi-03, Natore-01, Patuakhali-01, Netrokona-01, Bhola-08, Manikgonj-03, Mymensingh-03, Gopalgonj-01, Khulna-13, Sylhet-01, Jhinaidah-03, Kustia-01, Norsingdhi-19, Bagerhat-02, Chittagong-08, Kishoregonj-05, Meherpur-02)

4. Culled on 13/02/2008 ---

5. Culling up to 13/02/2008 6, 03, 623

http://www.mofl.gov.bd/daily_birdflu_report.pdf