NAY PYI TAW, 21 Jan—As a layer farm in Thaechaung Latthama Village, Bumei Village tract, Sittwe Township, Rakhine State was reported to be affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza, specialists of Diagnostics and Control Division under Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department from Yangon went there and are taking measures to keep the virus under control in collaboration with personnel concerned. Personnel from Rakhine State Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department, having heard that some of layers in the village died of suspicious reasons, went to the village on 12 January and then sent sample plasma of the dead hens to Animal Diagnostic Lab in Yangon to examine the cause of death.

As soon as personnel of the lab found that it was highly pathogenic avian influenza which led those hens to death, they went to the village. In cooperation with the chairman of Sittwe District Peace and Development Council, Myanma Police Force, and the township Development Committee, they killed the poultry of chicken houses and households within one kilometre-radius of the flu infected farm, buried them at 7 feet depth in the ground, sprayed pesticides and burnt them.

Then, sale of poultry and related products was banned within 3- kilometre radius of the village for three weeks. Family of the layer farm owner and six farm workers are being kept in quarantine for diagnostic tests and the farm was declared restricted area. Materials used in the farm and wastages were sprayed with insecticides and burnt and buried, it was reported.