Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar has called for a collective regional approach to the recurring menace of avian influenza that causes bird flu. He said, most of India's neighbours are frequently affected by the avian influenza and the states sharing a common border with Bangladesh remain particularly at risk. He told this to parliamentary consultative committee attached to his ministry last evening. Mr Pawar said, so long as Bangladesh remains in the grip of the disease, India will also be affected. Stating that the country is adopting a regional approach to fight this menace, he said the country has already offered assistance to neighbouring countries in testing samples and training their technical manpower in diagnostic techniques. Mr Pawar said, a beginning in this regard has been made and three scientists from Bangladesh received training at the high security Animal Disease Laboratory in Bhopal a few months back. Reiterating Centre's determination to prevent bird flu, the Minister said a comprehensive surveillance programme against the disease has been undertaken and steps have been taken to upgrade laboratory infrastructure.