April 28, 2006

 

Myanmar lifts ban on poultry

 

 

Bird flu is under control in Myanmar and a ban on the sale and movement of poultry would be lifted within days, the Livestock Department said on Thursday (Apr 28).

 

Bird flu broke out in March in Myanmar and spread to 13 townships.

 

With no new outbreaks of the H5N1 virus in poultry since Apr 6, the government decided to remove restrictions while assuring the country would continue surveillance against new outbreaks.

 

Livestock officials said 70 outbreaks were under control after thousands of birds and eggs were destroyed in farms in Sagaing and Mandalay Divisions.

 

Dr Myat Kyaw, a senior official in the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Dept said measures to control the disease would be stopped after the ban has been lifted.

 

Kyaw added that authorities would continue monitoring and surveillance while working closely with the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation, which endorsed the lifting of the ban.

 

FAO chief technical adviser Ram Chaudhary said the tough restrictions were no longer necessary, citing strict measures such as the closure of poultry markets and the fact that there had been no new outbreaks for three weeks.

 

In the capital, Yangon, poultry prices rebounded as consumers bought chicken again after supplies were cut off for the past few weeks.

 

Meanwhile, Thailand said it would increase surveillance along its border with Myanmar, as it was afraid the disease could be brought in by smuggled poultry.

 

Thailand will host a regional bird flu meeting next month focusing on Myanmar. The country has set aside US$2.5 million to train and equip officials from poorer neighbouring countries.