No reason to panic, though bird flu spreading

Traders in Sripur Market of Gazipur pack unsafe chickens in sacks with bare hands, for sending them to the capital, despite the country being rocked by a bird flu scare. Photo: STAR

Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for Fisheries and livestock Manik Lal Samaddar yesterday said although the bird flu has been spreading, there is no reason to be panicked.
"We are trying to keep the situation under control. We have taken all-out measures to prevent spread of the avian influenza virus," he told a press briefing at his ministry.
So far 4,61,311 chickens, ducks and pigeons from 179 poultry farms in the country have been culled since March 2007.
He said the government has increased the amount of compensation for culled chicken, and Tk 1.27 crore has so far been distributed among the affected poultry farm owners.
The affected owners will now get Tk 95 instead of the earlier rate of Tk 80 for a chicken, of local variety, Tk 90 instead of Tk 70 for a broiler chicken aged over 12 weeks, and Tk 20 instead of Tk 15 for a chick.
Samaddar said people have to be aware about the bird flu and they will have to ensure their own bio-security measures. He said instructions were given to city corporations and municipalities to ensure bio-security.
He said the virus remains active during the winter but it gradually disappears during the summer.
Prof Mahmudur Rahman, director at the Health Directorate, said there is no risk of eating chickens or eggs if they are full boiled.
He said those who will cut or cook chickens will have to wash hands with soap or detergent which destroys the virus.
Our staff correspondent from Chittagong reports: A poultry farmer allegedly dumped around 6,000 dead chickens at a canal and a pond near his farm at Kuwaish Burischar over the last three days.
Local authorities suspect the poultry have died from bird flu infection.
Locals discovered the mess after the odour of dead animals spread all around the locality. The dead chickens had been tied up in sacks and then dumped in the canal and pond. Dead crows were also found floating on the water bodies.
When contacted, Mohammad Ali, owner of Aziza Poultry Farm confessed that he had dumped 1500 dead chickens from his farm. He however denied any knowledge of the remaining chickens found in the water.
Chittagong Deputy Commissioner Ashraf Shamim said he had sent a team to the spot to investigate the matter and arrange for all the dead birds to be buried properly.
He also said that action would be taken against the poultry owner if he were found to have secretly dumped the infected chickens instead of taking proper steps to bury the dead carcasses of the fowls.
Over 13,000 chickens have died of bird flu infection while another 3,000 infected chickens were culled in the last three days in the district.
The local administration, culled around 3,000 fowls at the Karnaphuli Poultry and Hatchery at city's Bakalia area on Tuesday night soon after the infection was confirmed through relevant tests.