Challenges of Bangladesh in Conquering Avian Influenza

Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. It is now in the list of countries detected Avian Influenza (bird flu) in poultry since March 2007. Avian Influenza affected 26 districts out of 64 districts. Department of Livestock confirmed the presence of H5N1 in 84 poultry farms across the county and no human cases have been reported so far. Since its outbreak some 3, 26,844 chickens were culled. It is vulnerable to AI epidemic and endemic situation because of poor bio-security situation in the dominant small scale and backyard poultry farms and also it is surrounded by India and Myanmar, and is close to several other HPA1/H5N1 infected countries, including Thailand and China. Currently government of Bangladesh taking different measures to control the situation but do not put emphasize on Bio-securities and PPE for reduction of spread of AI in the country which is a major threat to human health. One of major challenge for Bangladesh is to conduct risk communication through implementation of the communication strategy, which is being developed. This article attempt to examine whether the Avian Influenza situation and communication strategy adopted in the country follows risk communication principles such as listen to and partner with stakeholders, establish, build and maintain trust, work with the media, develop own messages, be honest, clear and compassionate and think before speak.