May 18, 2004

Bangladesh Takes Steps To Keep Out Bird Flu

For the past few months the government has banned the import of parent stock chicks (which are raised by Bangladeshi hatcheries to produce commercial chicks) from a number of countries which had reported outbreaks of avian influenza (bird flu). This import ban has been hailed by the poultry industry as a decisive action that has prevented the spread of avian flu to Bangladesh.

Two of the countries on the list, India and Malaysia, have not reported any outbreaks of avian influenza. However, as India and Malaysia border countries which are known to be infected with avian flu, there is an extremely high probability that both of these countries may also suffer outbreaks soon. Thus banning poultry imports from these countries was a necessary precaution.