THE United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisa-tion (FAO) agreed last month to provide A$440,000 (US$335,760) to the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries for implementation of a new bird flu control project.

The agreement was signed August 22 in Nay Pyi Taw by U Maung Maung Nyunt, director general of the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department, and Mr Tang Zhengping, FAO’s resident representative in Myanmar.

The main objective of the project is to undertake short- and medium-term activities to strengthen Myanmar’s capacity to rapidly detect the introduction of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) into the country, and minimize its spread in case of future occurrences, said U Saw Lei War, FAO’s assistant representative in Myanmar.

Confirmed outbreaks of avian influenza occurred in Mandalay and Sagaing Divisions from mid-March to early April.

Among the specific objectives will be assisting veterinary services in improving awareness and detection of the disease, and establishing rapid reporting systems, U Saw Lei War said.

He said the project also aimed to build the capacity of laboratories to handle diagnostic work under minimal acceptable biosafety levels, and to support efforts by the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries to alleviate the loss of poultry among farming families.

U Saw Lei War said livestock and poultry producers would benefit from improved animal disease prevention and control methodologies, while technical institutions would benefit from enhanced services that should translate into better economic prospects for the livestock and poultry sector of the economy.

The general population will also benefit from improved public health systems and food security, he said.