Bird Flu Outbreaks In Bangladesh

UN Agency Urges Response To Bird Flu Outbreaks In Bangladesh

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today warned that the bird flu situation in Bangladesh remains serious and called for action to get it under control.

"In response to recent outbreaks, the government and veterinary authorities have applied immediate control and containment measures in affected areas," said Joseph Domenech, FAO's Chief Veterinary Officer. "But there is an urgent need for vigorously stepping up and extending current H5N1 control campaigns in order to prevent the virus becoming widely entrenched."

Since the first officially announced avian influenza outbreak in Bangladesh in February, the virus has spread to eleven out of 64 districts.

"Bangladesh has already prepared a National Avian Influenza and Human Pandemic Preparedness Plan and an Emergency Operational Plan to meet the threat of bird flu and is implementing these plans to control the disease," Mr. Domenech said, while adding, "The situation remains of serious concern and will require further national engagement and coordinated international support."

He said Bangladesh has a "real chance to get the virus under control, if it commits itself to a full-scale comprehensive national control campaign" and pledged FAO's assistance in this effort.

There have so far been over 280 confirmed human cases worldwide, more than half of them fatal, the vast majority in South-East Asia. The so-called Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-1920, which also originated from birds, is estimated to have killed from 20 million to 40 million people worldwide.

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