A virus of avian influenza was detected in Bangladesh, an official communique said on Thursday.

The virus first ever in this country has been detected in a poultry farm at Savar, outskirts of capital Dhaka.

The samples were sent on an urgent basis to Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute and also to National Institute of Animal Health in Bangkok for confirmation.

A special meeting of the Council of Advisers chaired by Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed was informed that the virus has been detected.

The results showed the existence of influenza virus of the H5N1 variety. However, poultry birds infected with H5N1 variety has not been detected anywhere else in the country other than Savar area.

The government has initiated a number of preemptive and proactive actions to eliminate any possibility of its further proliferation to other places.

These include destruction of poultry birds in the infected areas; restricting the movement of poultry birds within 10 kilometers radius of the affected area and preventive measures including chemo-profiling of those handling poultry birds;

The government would like to assure that there is no reason for any panic or concern. In fact, poultry birds and eggs can be consumed as usual through normal cooking, according to experts.

Source: Xinhua