April 3, 2006
 
Bangladesh destroys Indian chickens to prevent bird flu
 

Bangladesh border guards said they had in the past two weeks destroyed more than 100,000 chickens smuggled from India as part of the government's increased vigilance against bird flu.

The government action follows a call last month from the United Nations to  prepare for the threat of a "devastating" outbreak of bird flu.

UN resident representative Louis-George Arsenault urged the government to implement a bird flu preparedness programme to respond to the crisis. Bangladesh is particularly vulnerable due to its dense population and its location on the major routes for migratory birds, he added.

The government has banned the import of poultry and poultry products from 33 affected countries and there have been no reported outbreaks of the H5N1 virus in the country.

Poultry farming, with an annual turnover of US$750 million is one of Bangladesh's fastest-growing industries and employs more than two million workers.

Both India and Myanmmar, which shares borders with Blangladesh, experienced bird flu outbreaks last month.

Smuggling of chickens along the 4000-kilometre border with India is happening despite heightened vigilance.  Border guards tightened border security after an infection of bird flu was reported in India in February.

The government has an emergency fund of US$714,000 for equipment and other preparations for an outbreak but officials said the country is not adequately prepared for an outbreak of the deadly virus. Many farm workers do not use gloves or masks to handle dead chickens.

The government has taken an initiative to organise villagers along the border areas to form vigilance teams to deter smugglers.

Bangladesh has about 150,000 poultry farms with an annual turnover of US$750 million.