The New Nation - Internet Edition

Chittagong Correspondent

Though the avian influenza virus, what causes 'Bird Flu' among fowls, has been detected in a number of crows died in the port city, there is still no direct evidence of the virus infection in poultry.

Presence of the virus among some of the dead crows in the port city prompted the district administration, Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) and the livestock department to revive high alert.

The district administration and the departments concerned here in the port city sitting together over and over for working out the strategy to tackle the probable threat to the public health.

"We've drawn a comprehensive precautionary scheme across the district to resist spread of the virus "Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ashraf Shamim told the reporters on last night.

"Bird flu has been found in the dead crows, but the virus has not been found in any chicken or eggs anywhere in the district," the DC asserted without referring to the quantity of poultry and poultry eggs screened for the virus.

Chittagong district livestock officer Abdul Mannan confirmed that no bird flu virus had yet been detected in any chicken or duck in Chittagong.

As part of the preventive measures, people have been advised not to touch the crows, poultry birds and fowls dying

without known reason. The district administration, however, refrained from asking people to stop eating poultry eggs.

Two check posts have been set up at Shubhapur Bridge and Baroierhat of Mirsarai Police Station to strictly control the entry of poultry and eggs from outside the district. Two control rooms have been set up to monitor the situation.

Police today stopped a lorry laden with poultry eggs near Mirsarai and sent the eggs to quarantine.After an emergency meeting this afternoon, the CCC today sprayed disinfectant fluid at the city's poultry markets.

Initiatives have also been taken to monitor all poultry farms and raise awareness among the workers and owners while district administration had directed upazila officers to ensure the cleanliness of markets and spray disinfectant at the retail outlets of poultry birds.