Bangladesh says bird flu spreads to more farms

DHAKA, May 3 (Reuters) Bird flu has spread to six more farms in western Bangladesh, forcing authorities to cull thousands of fowl and destroy eggs, government officials said today.

The latest cases were uncovered on farms in Jessore district, 300 km west of the capital Dhaka, said a senior official at the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry.

Some 9,000 birds were culled at the farms, where thousands of eggs were also buried, officials said.

The H5N1 virus was first detected at six farms at Savar near Dhaka on March 22 and the virus has since spread across the country, they said.

There have been no cases of human infection.

Jessore district is adjacent to the West Bengal state of India, where bird flu was detected. Bangladesh also shares a border with Myanmar, which is fighting the disease.

So far, nearly 107,000 chickens have been culled in nine districts. Authorities have pledged to pay nearly 1 us dollar for each culled bird.

REUTERS SG VC1505