The New Nation - Internet Edition

THE threat of bird flu menaced Bangladesh in 2007 and the greater part of 2008. The contagion was considered under control only in recent months and after heavy losses from consumers' rejection and forced culling, the poultry industry here started showing signs of recovery. But bad news is again on the horizon from the reported outbreak of the disease in Indian states close to Bangladesh. With H5n1virus again ravaging the poultry population in the Indian neighbouring states, there are strong reasons for Bangladesh to fear reentry of the virus and afflicting its poultry industry.

According to reports, bird flu has been detected in thousands of dead chickens in the Indian state of West Bengal and 300,000 chickens and ducks culled in Assam. The danger stems from the fact that notwithstanding monitoring by security forces at the borders, chickens and eggs still find their ways into the country through the long and porous borders. Thus, vigil by BDR and other security forces need to be raised to the highest level to block such infected agents from passing into Bangladesh. Side by side, the people should be warned through the mass media to be vigilant.

The ominous news published in this paper on Thursday is that some 100 people in Assam have been hospitalised with fever and respiratory problems. They are suspected to have contracted bid flu. This is very alarming since all countries have been trying with a great deal of success to prevent the mutation of the disease from birds to humans. Millions of humans could die rapidly if the mutated form of the virus spreads among them which is possible in a densely populated country. Thus, Bangladesh has to be extremely efficient in checking the resurfacing of bird flu.