Myanmar calls for precaution against cross-border bird flu

December 5, 2008

YANGON (Xinhua): The Myanmar Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department (LBVD) Friday called on the country's people to take preventive measures against cross-border bird flu, saying that the avian influenza was found occurring intermittently in neighboring countries in both the east and the northwest since last month.

The statement of LBVD attributed the phenomena to have been caused by migratory wild birds, carriers of deadly H5N1 virus from one place to another.

The statement urged poultry traders to step up bio-security measures against the probability.

Migratory birds from different regions across the world used to fly over Myanmar territory during the winter season period between November and February, especially December, according to experts.

The authorities have also called for keeping awareness about the modes of infection of the avian influenza and intensifying precautionary and educational measures to prevent any occurrence in humans and birds.

Meanwhile, Myanmar is cooperating with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in prevention against avian influenza.
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In April this year, the World Animal Health Organization (OIE) declared Myanmar as a bird-flu-free country three months after the country was proved that there was no residual bird flu virus remained over the period since January.

Over the past two years since February 2006 until the last in December 2007, there were numerous outbreaks of the avian influenza in Myanmar covering 25 townships of six states and divisions.

All of the occurrences were blamed for infecting from abroad especially that the virus was carried into the country by migratory birds from the cold regions in the world infecting local birds, according to the LBVD.

Myanmar reported outbreak of the avian influenza in the country for the first time in some poultry farms in Mandalay and Sagaing divisions in early 2006, followed by those in Yangon division in early 2007, in Mon state's Thanbyuzayat and western Bago division' s Letpadan in July and in eastern Bago division's Thanatpin and in Yangon division's Hmawby in October the same year.

Despite the declaration as a bird-flu-free country, the Myanmar livestock authorities continued to call on the country's people to exercise a long-term precaution against the deadly H5N1 bird flu.