Bird flu costs poultry sector $ 5,84000

Bird flu has caused an estimated loss of $ 5,84000 to the poultry sector in the country since Bangladesh announced its outbreak in March 2007, an assessment committee report published here said on Wednesday.

"We have estimated the loss caused by the bird flu during the period between March 2007 and January 31 this year," the New Age quoted convenor of the government constituted committee and general secretary of Bangladesh Breeders' Association Moshiur Rahman as saying.

Rahman said the committee comprising leaders of poultry related sectors and government officials submitted the report to the special assistant to the chief adviser on the fisheries and livestock ministry on Wednesday.

Officials earlier said so far some seven lakh chickens were stamped out as the disease spread in 42 of the 64 districts exposing the poultry industry to its worst crisis.

Some four lakh people were directly dependent on the estimated USD 8,76000 poultry industry, growing at a rate of about 60 per cent until the bird flu outbreak, they said earlier.

There were about 1.80 lakh to 2 lakh poultry farms in the country with some 22 crore poultry.