Bangladesh says bird flu spreads to southern region
DHAKA, April 11 (Reuters) - Bird flu has spread to the southern region of Bangladesh, despite persistent efforts by veterinary and health personnel to contain it, a senior official of the fisheries and livestock ministry said.
“The avian virus has been detected at a farm in Noakhali district 200 km (125 miles) south of the capital Dhaka,” said the official, Mohammad Abdul Motalib of the livestock department.
He said the H5N1 virus spread despite a struggle by hundreds of veterinary and health officials to hold it in check.
Movement of chickens had been banned outside a 10 sq km (3.9 sq miles) area around affected farms.
More than 75,000 chickens have been culled so far from 28 farms since the outbreak of avian flu was confirmed simultaneously in six farms at Savar near Dhaka on March 22.
Bird flu story source: Reuters alertnet