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Biosecurity and Circulation of Influenza A (H5N1) Virus in Live‐Bird Markets in Bangladesh, 2012
Author(s) -
Biswas P. K.,
Giasuddin M.,
Nath B. K.,
Islam M. Z.,
Debnath N. C.,
Yamage M.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
transboundary and emerging diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.392
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1865-1682
pISSN - 1865-1674
DOI - 10.1111/tbed.12454
Subject(s) - influenza a virus subtype h5n1 , biosecurity , highly pathogenic , geography , environmental protection , environmental health , veterinary medicine , biology , medicine , ecology , virology , virus
Summary Bangladesh has been considered as one of the five countries endemic with highly pathogenic avian influenza A subtype H5N1 ( HPAI H5N1). Live‐bird markets ( LBM s) in south Asian countries are believed to play important roles in the transmission of HPAI H5N1 and others due to its central location as a hub of the poultry trading. Food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO ) of the United Nations has been promoting improved biosecurity in LBM s in Bangladesh. In 2012, by enrolling 32 large LBM s: 10 with FAO interventions and 22 without assistance, we assessed the virus circulation in the selected LBM s by applying standard procedures to investigate market floors, poultry stall floors, poultry‐holding cases and slaughter areas and the overall biosecurity using a questionnaire‐based survey. Relative risk ( RR ) was examined to compare the prevalence of HPAI H5N1 in the intervened and non‐intervened LBM s. The measures practised in significantly more of the FAO ‐intervened LBM s included keeping of slaughter remnants in a closed container; decontamination of poultry vehicles at market place; prevention of crows’ access to LBM , market/floor cleaning by market committee; wet cleaning; disinfection of floor/poultry stall after cleaning; and good supply of clean water at market ( P < 0.05). Conversely, disposal of slaughter remnants elsewhere at market and dry cleaning were in operation in more of the FAO non‐intervened LBM s ( P < 0.05). The RR for HPAI H5N1 in the intervened and non‐intervened LBM s was 1.1 (95% confidence interval 0.44–2.76), suggesting that the proportion positive of the virus in the two kinds of LBM did not vary significantly ( P = 0.413). These observations suggest that the viruses are still maintained at the level of production in farms and circulating in LBM s in Bangladesh regardless of interventions, albeit at lower levels than in other endemic countries.