The World Bank (WB) is actively considering to provide 20 million U.S. dollars initially, which is expected to reach ultimately the figure of nearly 100 million to Bangladesh to prevent outbreak of bird flu, official news agency BSS reported Wednesday.

The Bangladeshi government has already made a three-year plan titled "National Avian Influenza and Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan Bangladesh 2006-08" to create awareness among people and to prevent the possible epidemic of bird flu in the country.

This three-year plan was approved recently by the Prime Minister's Office and a total of three ministries -- Environment and Forestry, Fisheries and Livestock, and Health and Family Welfare -- will jointly implement this plan at an estimated cost of 113 million U.S. dollars.

Director of Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) Professor Mahmudur Rahman was quoted as saying that a WB team visited the country last month and it assured to provide financial assistance to implement the plan while the bank has principally agreed to provide 20 million U.S. dollars initially.

The main objective of the plan is to create awareness among the people, provide proper information to take precautions especially by the bird handling workers and traders, and ensure the maximum level of bio-security in the country's poultry industries.

To execute this plan, five major strategies were set up like planning and coordination, surveillance and early warning, prevention and control, sector response and risk communication, Rahman said.

Under the plan steps will be taken against importation of poultry and poultry products, poor bio-security, illegal or informal trade and mixing between migratory birds and local birds.

The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock has already trained a number of people through forming animal disease rapid response team in the districts. Health Ministry has given orientation training to 64 civil surgeons on bird flu across the country.

Source: Xinhua