This Avian Influenza Preparedness and Response Project is designed to control such infections in domestic poultry, and prepare for, controlling, and responding to possible human infections, especially an influenza epidemic and related emergencies. This will be achieved through three types of interventions: prevention, preparedness and planning, and response and containment.

Bangladesh is a high-risk country for HPAI. Some 50 percent of the national poultry flock of 185 million is backyard poultry, with minimal bio-security. It also has a large duck population of 37 million. In addition, the country is visited annually in the winter months by 21 species of migratory birds that can carry the virus. In fact, Bangladesh has continued to experience outbreaks of the H5N1 virus since February 2007.

“Now that outbreaks have taken place, steps need to be taken urgently to prepare for more such outbreaks in the future,” said Mohamed Toure, World Bank Acting Country Director for Bangladesh. “This project will not only help curb the threat of avian flu but also contribute to the control of other types of infectious diseases, in terms of building overall response capacity in the country.”

The project focuses on three broad areas: animal health, public awareness and information, and implementation support and monitoring and evaluation. “Communication is extremely important to minimize negative consequences of HPAI on poultry production, consumption, and human health and has to be well adapted to the Bangladeshi conditions,” said Mohinder Mudahar, Consultant to the World Bank and co-project team leader.

The project supports the Government’s National Avian Influenza and Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan, which provides a strategic national framework to control and contain any HPAI outbreak.

“Immediate action in areas such as improved national surveillance and diagnosis and stock piling of emergency supplies is needed, but there is also a long-term agenda,” said Mr. Mudahar. “Given systemic shortcomings in veterinary services, we need to focus on staff training and improvements in surveillance, diagnostic and curative facilities.”

The project will also be co-financed initially by a US$2 million grant from the Avian and Human Influenza (AHI) Facility, which is administered by the World Bank and supported by nine donors, including the European Commission. -The World Bank