MILAN, May 21 (Reuters) - Bangladesh needs a long-term strategy to control the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said on Monday.

No cases of human infection have been reported in Bangladesh, but some 157,000 chickens have been culled and 1.5 million eggs destroyed as the virus spread to 11 out of 64 districts since the first outbreak, announced in March.

FAO Chief Veterinary Officer Joseph Domenech said in a statement the situation remained "of serious concern" and urged Bangladesh to come up with a long-term strategy.

"Bangladesh has a real chance to get the virus under control, if it commits itself to a full-scale comprehensive national control campaign," Domenech said.

Bangladesh should tighten control of the movement of people, animals and goods in the virus-affected areas and ensure that basic biosecurity measures, including disinfection and protective clothing, were applied, FAO said.

The Rome-based agency said poultry should be culled in affected areas and minimum hygiene standards established at slaughter points at live bird markets.

FAO recommended targeted poultry vaccination and upgrading veterinary laboratories for rapid diagnosis of suspected outbreaks.

Bangladesh also should look into potential virus spread through the market chain, for example through the collection of eggs and distribution of day-old chicks and feed, it said.

Bangladesh should step up public awareness campaigns and encourage farmers to report on suspected cases, the FAO said.

Bangladesh has about 220 million chickens and 37 million ducks. Five million people are directly employed by the poultry industry, millions of households rely on poultry production for income generation and nutrition, FAO said.

AlertNet news is provided by