January 17, 2008

Bangladesh district hit by H5N1 bird flu
 

A livestock department official said the H5N1 bird flu virus was reported in backyard poultry in the southern coastal district Barishal.

After the confirmation of bird flu,  authorities were forced to cull more than 1,500 birds in a one-kilometre area.

There are suspected outbreaks at a farm in northwestern Rajshahi district, and another farm in northern Rangpur district, where the virus has been confirmed in fowl previously.

The official said initial tests showed some birds at the Rajshahi farm have died from bird flu, but they did not know whether it is the fatal H5N1 strain.

The H5N1 bird flu has spread mainly to northern districts since it was first reported near the capital in March last year and authorities were forced to cull more than 300,000 chickens.

The latest outbreak sees 72 farms in 23 districts  infected with the deadly virus.

There are around 150,000 poultry farms in Bangladesh.