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SATKHIRA, Feb 20 (UNB): Red alert was announced in border areas against infiltration of poultry birds and eggs from across the border in the wake of outbreak of bird flu reported in the Indian state of Maharashtra.
BDR, police, local administration and poultry farms have been advised to be extra vigilant and take maximum precaution so that no poultry bird or egg can enter Bangladesh through the porous border, officials of the Livestock Directorate told the news agency Monday.
They said all leave of field level livestock officials have been cancelled. They have been asked to closely monitor the situation, particularly in hundreds of poultry farms. The have been asked to inform the Directorate in case any evidence of bird flue is detected in any corner of the country.
BDR Nayek Mofazzal of Bhomra camp told the news agency that they are on red alert to check infiltration of poultry birds or eggs.
The Livestock Directorate also advised the poultry farm and hatchery owners to take all precautionary measures and not to import or buy poultry birds and eggs smuggled from across the border.
Poultry farm owners in Satkhira are worried about the bird flue in neighbouring India. Bangladesh's poultry farms are highly vulnerable to Avian Influenza virus due to its geographical location and dependency on chicken imports.
Earlier, the government imposed ban on importing poultry products from some countries following the outbreak of the disease in 13 Asian countries.
"The outbreak of bird flu in India has posed a serious threat to poultry farming in Bangladesh as poultry birds are smuggled from across the border every day," said Abdur Razzak, livestock officer in Sadar Upazila.
Apart from the vigilance by the border forces, people should be made aware of the danger of the deadly disease, he added.
The viral strain has so far killed 91 people since 2003, most of them in Asia.
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