Myanmar is cooperating with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in prevention against highly pathogenic avian influenza under a three-year project, the state newspaper New Light of Myanmar reported Friday.
The three-year project (2008-2011) involves a financial aid of 1.315 million U.S. dollars pledged by the World Bank, the daily said.
With the FAO's cooperation, the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department (LBVD) of Myanmar will implement the project.
In April this year, the World Animal Health Organization (OIE) declared Myanmar as a bird-flu-free country three months after the country was proved that there was no residual bird flu virus remained over the period since January.
According to then OIE statement, the latest spread of the H5N1 virus from Kengtung to Mongphyat in Shan state in November last year, which infected a seven-year-old girl later in December, had been under control since late January this year, attributing the infection to carrying from abroad.
There were numerous outbreaks of the avian influenza in Myanmar covering 25 townships of six states and divisions over the past two years since February 2006 until December 2007.
All of the occurrences were blamed for infecting from abroad especially that the virus was carried into the country by migratory birds from the cold regions in the world infecting local birds, according to the LBVD.
Myanmar reported outbreak of the avian influenza in the country for the first time in some poultry farms in Mandalay and Sagaing divisions in early 2006, followed by those in Yangon division in early 2007, in Mon state's Thanbyuzayat and western Bago division's Letpadan in July and in eastern Bago division's Thanatpin and in Yangon division's Hmawby in October the same year.
In fight against the disease, Myanmar has been cooperating with experts from the FAO and USAID.
Despite the declaration as a bird-flu-free country, the Myanmar livestock authorities continue to call on the country's people to exercise a long-term precaution against the deadly H5N1 bird flu.
Source:Xinhua
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