Bangladesh hit by bird flu

Officials have announced that nearly 500 chickens have been killed by bird flu, in what is reported to be the first outbreak in north-eastern Bangladesh.

Bird flu hit a poultry farm in Moulavibazar about 250 km from the capital city Dhaka.

"After the confirmation of bird flu, authorities culled nearly 800 chickens, ducks and birds in a 1 km area around the affected farm," said Salehuddin Khan, director of the country's livestock department.

It has been reported that the highly pathogenic H5N1 poultry virus was first discovered near the capital in March in 2007, consequently killing more than 300,000 birds. In the most recent outbreak, 71 farms in 22 of Bangladesh's 64 districts have been infected.

For the latest poultry news, subscribe here

Editor WorldPoultry