Special report: Global fight against bird flu

    DHAKA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The United States has donated 10,000 sets of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to Bangladesh to help it strengthen avian influenza prevention and control.

    Each PPE set consists of coveralls, shoe covers, a respirator, goggles, an apron, and inner and outer gloves, private news agency UNB reported Monday.

    The Department of Livestock Services, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock of Bangladesh caretaker government, received the donation on Sunday.

    The American Mission in Dhaka has helped Bangladesh in training Department of Livestock Services officials in the proper use of PPEs, testing, and disposal of infected poultry.

    Bird flu has so far affected some 326,844 chickens in 29 out of Bangladesh's 64 districts since the first detection of the virus in the country in March 2007, Manik Lal Samaddar, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser of the caretaker government told reporters Sunday.

    Earlier, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations said in a press release, 21 districts of Bangladesh have been infected with H5N1 virus and the situation seems to be worsening.