A memorandum of understanding (MoU) to this effect was signed in Dhaka yesterday between the US Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS) and Centre for Health and Population Research of ICDDR, B.

Assistant Secretary of USDHHS Stewart Simonson and Executive Director of ICDDR, B David A Sack signed the MoU on behalf of their respective sides.

Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Abdullah Al Noman, Minister for Health and Family Welfare Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and US Ambassador to Bangladesh Patricia Butenis were present.

Noman said the joint efforts of ICDDR, USDHHS and Bangladesh government will help prevent bird flu. He strongly denied the presence of the virus in Bangladesh.

Khandakar Mosharraf also denied the presence of bird flu in Bangladesh, saying that the government has given importance to the matter.

He said the government's surveillance system is strong enough to detect such virus.

US Ambassador Patricia said her government is supporting the Bangladesh government to avert the avian influenza.