The United Nations food agency has said the bird flu situation in Bangladesh remains serious and sought a long-term strategic campaign to bring the deadly disease under control.

"Bangladesh will have to engage in a long-term strategic campaign against highly pathogenic avian influenza in order to get the spreading H5N1 virus under control," the Food and Agriculture Organisation said.

The first officially announced avian influenza outbreak in Bangladesh occurred in February 2007; since then the virus has spread to eleven out of 64 districts, it reported. Bangladesh is the second country in South Asia to be affected by the H5N1 virus this year.

"In response to recent outbreaks, the government and veterinary authorities have applied immediate control and containment measures in affected areas," said Joseph Domenech, FAO's chief veterinary officer.

Noting that Bangladesh has already prepared a National Avian Influenza and Human Pandemic Preparedness Plan and an Emergency Operational Plan to meet the threat of bird flu, Domenech asserted that there is an urgent need for vigorously stepping up and extending current H5N1 control campaigns to prevent the virus becoming widely entrenched.

"The situation remains of serious concern and will require further national engagement and coordinated international support," he said.

"Bangladesh has a real chance to get the virus under control, if it commits itself to a full-scale comprehensive national control campaign. FAO is ready to continue its assistance and further international aid will be essential to support the country in this huge challenge," Domenech said.

FAO recommended that Bangladesh applies a strategic approach towards the control of the H5N1 virus, ensuring efficient coordination of all control activities carried out by the more than 60 district rapid response teams. This would entail central coordination and management of campaigns by a national control centre in Dhaka.

The ways the virus is being spread needs to be carefully assessed, it said, adding that potential virus spread throughout the market chain, for example through the collection of eggs and distribution of day-old chicks and feed, should be investigated.

Culling is recommended to be carried out at full scale in affected areas. The movement of people, animals and goods in affected areas should be strictly controlled and basic

biosecurity measures (disinfection, protective clothing, etc.) applied.

Minimum hygiene standards are required to be established at slaughter points at live bird markets, it said. Targeted vaccination is also recommended to stop the virus spread. The capacity of veterinary laboratories will need to be improved to allow for rapid diagnosis of suspected outbreaks.

In addition to existing rehabilitation packages already offered to farmers, FAO suggested that Bangladesh develop a comprehensive scheme to encourage reporting, facilitate disease control and minimise impact of disease control on large and small poultry producers.

Bangladesh has about 220 million chickens and 37 million ducks. Five million people are directly employed by the poultry industry, millions of households rely on poultry production for income generation and nutrition.