Long-term strategy to prevent bird flu epidemic stressed

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Speakers at a discussion stressed Monday the need for long-term strategy to prevent probable bird flu epidemic allover the country and protect the Tk 120 billion poultry sector, reports BSS.
Nearly 3.0 million people directly involved in this vital sector are contributing enormously to the national economy, they added.
As part of on-going discussions with various organisations, the UNICEF organised the discussion on bird flu in its conference room here. It was presided over by President of the Forum of Environmental Journalists of Bangladesh (FEJB) Quamrul Islam Chowdhury.
UNICEF communication officer Samsuddin Ahmed, experts, professionals, journalists, among others, took part in the discussion.
Referring to the government's meticulous preparedness since the detection of the bird flu to check the disease, the speakers said the role of the mass media is a must to supplement the government efforts in this regard. The UNICEF with the help of the government of Japan has provided 1.2 million US dollars to Bangladesh government in combating bird flu.
The meeting said a total of 1,70,000 chicken at 68 affected farms in 14 districts were culled so far since the detection of the bird flu virus in the country.
UNICEF sources said as part of the government steps to check bird flu, the livestock authorities have ordered stamping out and taking measures to disinfect all poultry farms around one kilometre radius of the affected farms, ban on transportation of poultry, chickens, eggs and pet birds within 10-kilometre radius of the affected areas through fencing, gathering of people engaged in the flu infected farms.
Besides, deputy commissioners were asked to carry out intensive inspection of poultry farms while members of the armed forces were called out to assist the police in this respect.
Meanwhile, the ministries of agriculture, livestock and health and family welfare have opened control rooms to monitor the situation and provide preventive measures in places where avian influenza has been detected.