Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department issued a statement on enhanced preventive and control measures against bird flu in Myanmar.

Outbreak of bird flu and control

Starting from early March 2006, the outbreaks of bird flu occurred in 13 townships in Sagaing and Mandalay Divisions, in central Myanmar.

Altogether 9,206 fowls from 408 poultry farms and 5,606 quails from 137 quail farms were culled and 0.33 million of fowls and 0.32 million of quails were destroyed. About 100,000 eggs and 80,000 quail eggs were also destroyed.

During the outbreak of the disease, ban on transport of fowls, ducks, quails and their eggs and movement of equipment used in poultry farms, promotion of bio security and public education were undertaken. The bird flu was under control in those areas on 6 April 2006 with the supervision and assistance of local authorities and the cooperation of Myanmar Police Force and staff of LBVD and Health Department and farmers.

Transport

During the outbreak of the disease, the respective bird flu control committees banned sale of fowls and eggs temporarily in the affected townships and transport of fowls and eggs in disease-free states and divisions.

The disease was under control in the restricted zones and the committees will lift the ban before the end of April and are making arrangements for regular flow of commodities.

Support for animal health

The bird flu control committee will take measures on transport of fresh fowls and eggs and their products from one place to another with the support of LBVD, the respective laboratories and township LBVD.

International and technical cooperation programme

The staff of LBVD are carrying out tasks on spraying poultry farms and disease surveillance, public education and issuing press release. Bird flu control was conducted in cooperation with Regional Coordinator of FAO Dr K Wantanee, expert Dr Parasit, adviser of USAID Dr J Mac Arthur and expert of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Dr Sudarat.

Moreover, LBVD staff together with FAO expert Mr Anthony Williams, a British citizen and Mr Harvey Westbury of Australia conducted disease control and discussed emergency measures for the project and performance of the department.

International assistance

JICA, FAO, National Laboratory for Animal Health (NAH) and Livestock and Development Centre of Thailand provided equipment, pesticides and laboratory equipment worth US $ 660,000. Besides, the People’s Republic of China also provided RMB Yuan 1 million for use in disease control and the Japanese government equipment, medicines and others worth US $ 2.1 million.

Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department

Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries