Avian influenza situation in Bangladesh stabilised: WB
Friday, 20 March 2009
The overall avian influenza situation in Bangladesh has stabilised with significantly less outbreaks but remains a 'high-risk' country, according to a latest World Bank (WB) prescription, reports UNB.
A press release of the funding agency Thursday said Bangladesh continues to remain a high-risk country for avian influenza (AI) outbreak.
However, the overall situation in the country appears to have stabilised with significantly less outbreaks being reported so far in 2008/09, as compared to that of 2007/08 period, it said.
The first AI outbreak was reported in February 2007 and continued until July 2007, a second wave continued from September 2007 to May 2008 and a third spell started in September 2008. So far, fourteen outbreaks have been reported, according to the WB count.
H5N1 virus in poultry was confirmed in 47 out of 64 districts (73%). With the detection of first human case of avian influenza in May 2008, Bangladesh has moved into the 'Pandemic Alert Stage', said the release.
HPAI has posed a serious socioeconomic threat to the poultry industry, potentially affecting about 4-5 million poultry employees, most of whom depend almost exclusively on poultry for their livelihood.
'Avian Influenza Preparedness and Response Project', co-financed by the World Bank and the Avian and Human Influenza Trust Fund (AHITF), started its operation since October 2007.
A press release of the funding agency Thursday said Bangladesh continues to remain a high-risk country for avian influenza (AI) outbreak.
However, the overall situation in the country appears to have stabilised with significantly less outbreaks being reported so far in 2008/09, as compared to that of 2007/08 period, it said.
The first AI outbreak was reported in February 2007 and continued until July 2007, a second wave continued from September 2007 to May 2008 and a third spell started in September 2008. So far, fourteen outbreaks have been reported, according to the WB count.
H5N1 virus in poultry was confirmed in 47 out of 64 districts (73%). With the detection of first human case of avian influenza in May 2008, Bangladesh has moved into the 'Pandemic Alert Stage', said the release.
HPAI has posed a serious socioeconomic threat to the poultry industry, potentially affecting about 4-5 million poultry employees, most of whom depend almost exclusively on poultry for their livelihood.
'Avian Influenza Preparedness and Response Project', co-financed by the World Bank and the Avian and Human Influenza Trust Fund (AHITF), started its operation since October 2007.