Due to ignorance, bird flu created many problems in the country, mostly in rural areas. As known among about 244 species of migratory birds, approximately 21 species may carry the HPAI/H5N1 virus.
Bangladesh has banned the import of poultry from 25 bird flu hit countries, including India, as a precaution with crack down on smuggling of birds. Safety appliances including masks, gloves and bleaching powder were distributed, bird selling centers were trained to promote health and hygiene improvement. But the situation was becoming worse as some regular practices were missed.
We are overlooking the practice and behavior which we are still practicing in everyday life in our country which is a major challenge. There should be a persistent campaign on bird flu prevention and management as there is hardly a family in rural Bangladesh that did not raise a dozen or so chickens in their backyard. It is sad that bird flu has reached to those backyard farms. It is well realised that we cannot prevent the further spread of bird flu unless we inform, motivate and mobilise the farmers to take measures to prevent the disease. We should address the traditional practices and behaviors which facilitate the spread of bird flu.
1. In the country, chickens are traditionally bought live from the market and slaughtered at home.
2. After the bird's throat is slit, it thrashes about and its blood sprinkles all over the courtyard. Usually the blood is not washed away, nor are the remains of the bird properly disposed of. Instead, the bird is thrown away where wild birds may eat it.
3. Home-grown chickens generally roam about the courtyard and defecate. People do not mind about the excreta of the domestic animals.
4. The residents usually move all over on their bare feet carrying the faeces into their homes, bedrooms and other places.
5. Chicken coops are generally cleaned each morning, but the cleaners rarely cover their faces with a mask or a piece of cloth to prevent exposure to faecal dust.
6. Amongst the very poorest people, residents and animals, including chickens, often share the same house and chicken faeces are either dumped in the backyard or spread over the kitchen garden as manure.
7. Some other households dry the faeces in the sun and then put them into the pond as fish feed — the same ponds they use for bathing, clothes' washing and watering livestock. Chicken faeces are more harmful than human faeces.
8. Traditional health and routine hygiene practices also need to be changed. People have less attitude of washing, cleaning and maintaining personal hygiene. If we can do that, we will be able to put an end not only to bird flu, but also to a host of other diseases that we suffer from.
Some recommendations can be forwarded:
1. People should be discouraged to move bare footed inside and outside the home
2. Chicken should be discouraged to slaughtered at home
3. We must dispose of chicken faeces the same way as we dispose of human faeces. We must put them in concealed pits the way we do human faeces.
4. Chicken feaces should not be used in garden and as fish food in ponds
5. We must develop a practice to wash our hands several times a day
6. There should be a persistent campaign on bird flu prevention and management
The writer is a Coordinator, Country Coordination Mechanism, GFATM, Bangladesh. E-mail: [email protected]