Now, avian influenza is spreading sporadically in some eastern neighbouring countries of Myanmar. Carriers of H5N1 virus are migratory birds and water common moorhen, and outbreak of bird flu is high along the routes they migrate from one region to another. H5N1 virus can survive at a place for 35 days at 4 degree Celsius.

It was deduced that the outbreak of bird flu to the northwest of Myanmar from last week of November to the first week of December was due to migratory birds. Therefore, it is required to make sure that chicken, baby ducks, eggs and poultry products are not accepted or transported into the nation through border areas illegally. Poultry can be directly infected with the virus when they have contact with migratory birds or lakes and pools that are contaminated with secretions or excretions from infected birds, and infected chickens or ducks enter a farm.

Moreover, they can be indirectly infected through people who come into contact with infected poultry farms or materials contaminated with the virus such as clothes and slippers. In order to avert such cases, chickens, ducks, geese and waterfowls are to be raised, transported and sold species-wise; and bio-security measures, to be enforced; and markets should have their specific off days for sanitation and pasteurization tasks. In addition, the places migratory birds pass through and stay are to be demarcated and pet animals are to be prevented from having contact with farm animals. The people are to join hands with local organizations in health care to animals in order to avoid spread of the virus into the nation.