U.S. Government Continues to Assist Live Bird Markets to Prevent Avian Influenza

Dhaka | July 6

The STOP AI (Stamping Out Pandemic and Avian Influenza) Bangladesh project, funded by the United States Government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will launch a  Cleaning and Disinfection (C&D) program on Tuesday, July 6 to improve the security of the live bird market at Sreepur Pauroshova in Sreepur Upazila of Gazipur District.            

USAID, through the STOP AI initiative, collaborated with the Sreepur Municipality, and the market committee to develop a market improvement plan to prevent the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) to birds and people, including renovation of the water supply, addition of a bio-gas facility for proper waste disposal and a slaughter house. The live bird markets can be a major source of the avian influenza and can contribute to its spread in Bangladesh. STOP AI protects animals from bird flu and provides people access to safe food products and minimizes the risks of avian influenza from becoming a public health epidemic.            

USAID initially piloted Cleaning and Disinfection programs in two major live bird markets in Dhaka (Mohammadpur and Kaptan bazaar). The successful outcome of these activities led to an expanded, nationwide program in which 19 additional markets were upgraded. These markets are located in Konabari Upazilla in Gazipur, and Hakimpur and Parbatipur Upazillas in Dinajpur.  There has been a major positive public health impact from improving markets in these high-risk, high-density poultry areas.