Rhiza Labs FluTracker Forum

Bird flu virus has acquired strength to endure increased temperature in the country, resulting in its infection even after winter, experts said.

They said that generally the infection beaks out in winter and no infection could be found in past years after a rise in temperature with the advent of summer.

But this year, the infection continued even after mid-March while the temperature has risen and the number of infected farms reached to 144, more than four times the figure of the past year when 31 farms were infected, till March 30, they said.

Livestock officials, however, said that there was no reason to be panicked about as the situation was under control and they intensified the vigilance to detect and stamp out the infection.

‘Bird flu virus cannot usually survive in heat but its character changes naturally as immunity grows in them,’ said Md Abdur Razzak Mia, the president of the Bangladesh Branch of the World’s Poultry Science Association.

He said that the detection was on even after mid-March while temperature has increased.

‘It might be an impact of climate change and the virus has got strength to survive in heat,’ he said.

According to the livestock control room, bird flu was detected in four farms in January, 56 in February and 84 till Wednesday.

The livestock department last detected bird flu at the Pioneer Breeders Limited at Uttar Kashdah of Shibalay in Manikganj and culled 5,732 chickens till early Wednesday, the control room in Dhaka said.

‘The lifetime of the bird flu virus increased this year and infection is still found,’ said livestock services director (animal health and administration) Md Aminur Rahman.

He said that the virus changes its character from time to time and the infection that could be detected in winter is detected even after an increase in temperature this year.

Aminur said that the department had strengthened its vigilance activities and avian influenza workers and livestock officials were visiting the farms and making aware people involved in farming and selling chickens.
http://newagebd.com/newspaper1/national/13605.html