India/Bengal/Tripura Bird Flu Spread to Humans?

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Bengal Bird Flu Spread to Humans?

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/01...a_Suspect.html

Commentary

Hospitalized Suspect H5N1 Patients in Malda West Bengal

Recombinomics Commentary 02:50
January 30, 2008

?We have been getting patients with high fever and chest pains and we are not being able to detect the source of infection. We have sent quite a few patients to B.R. Singh Hospital in Sealdah.?

However, no one has been confirmed with pneumonia, the known symptom of bird flu.

A team from the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) in Delhi and experts from the All-India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Calcutta, arrived here today to study the situation.

The above comments on hospitalized patients from Malda with bird flu symptoms are cause for concern (see satellite map here and here). Specialists have been brought in and isolations wards have been readied.

There have been other reports of patients with symptoms, but this appears to be the first example of a team of specialists arriving on site.

The media report does not give the number of patients, other than saying there are ?quite a few?.

More detail on their symptoms, include chest x-rays results, would be useful.


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[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Bengal Bird Flu Spread to Humans?

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/01..._Calcutta.html

Commentary

Suspect H5N1 Patients in Malda Transferred to Calcutta

Recombinomics Commentary 10:59
January 30, 2008

?We have been getting patients with high fever and chest pains and we are not being able to detect the source of infection. We have sent quite a few patients to B.R. Singh Hospital in Sealdah.?

However, no one has been confirmed with pneumonia, the known symptom of bird flu.

19 persons had exposure history. They are being followed up.

The above comments describe suspect H5N1 patients in Malda transferred to BR Singh hospital Calcutta for further analysis (see satellite map here and here). The report from Malda indicates ?quite a few? were transferred. The Ministry of Health and Welfare report for January 29 states that 19 persons in Malda had exposure history and follow-up is ongoing.

In addition to the transfer of patients to Calcutta, specialist from Calcutta and Delhi have been dispatched to Malda. Malda was one of the districts which reported confirmed H5N1 early. The outbreak in Malda led to culling in Bihar, even though Bihar denies H5N1 infections. A least one resident in Malda committed suicide due to the impact of the outbreak there.

Although the above report states that pneumonia has not been confirmed, the report does not indicate that pneumonia is not suspected.

The transfer of patients to Calcutta and the dispatching of medical specialists to the region is a serious escalation.

More detail on these patients would be useful.


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[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Bengal Bird Flu Spread to Humans?

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/01...abad_Jump.html

Commentary

Jump in Suspect H5N1 Patients in Murshidabad West Bengal

Recombinomics Commentary 13:29
January 30, 2008

? There had been 305 persons with Fever/URI. 51 had exposure history. They are being followed up. They have no signs of lower respiratory tract infection.
? 81 persons with fever/URI have reported in the hospital, out of which 16 have contact history. They are being followed up. They have no signs of lower respiratory tract infection.

The above description of H5N1 suspect patients in Murshidabad has dramatic increases in the number of patients with symptoms and exposure history (see satellite map here and here). The Ministry of Health and Welfare report for January 29 when compared to January 28 has an increase in patients with exposure history of 9 to 51. Hospitalized patients with exposure history jumped from zero to sixteen. Although these patients have no signs of lower respiratory tract infections, many appear to be new patients, in part because they were not included in the report fro the previous day. Moreover, mild H5N1 cases in Egypt were reported last year and the patients did not develop lower respiratory tract symptoms, but H5N1 was isolated.

In addition, patients in Malda have chest pains and many have been transferred to Calcutta. Although there may be small variations in H5N1 from different regions, the H5N1 in India is related to the Uva Lake strain and H5N1 isolated from Pakistan, where human cases have been reported, which include the longest sustained H5N1 transmission chain reported to date.

In addition to a large number of wild and domestic bird cases, Murshidabad has also reported the deaths of hundreds of goats with bird flu symptoms, including pneumonia.

Therefore more information and testing and the condition of these patients would be useful.


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[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Bengal Bird Flu Spread to Humans?

Bird Flu: 33 villagers under surveillance

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Jan 30: The Malda health authorities, under the guidance of experts from national institute of communicable diseases (NICD), New Delhi, are keeping close eye on 33 villagers owing to their illness with fever, cough and cold after handling and eating dead birds in Chanchal sub division area where culling operation is going after detection of Bird Flu virus, the Malda chief medical officer said today.

“A total of 33 persons who ate dead birds are under surveillance owing to their illness. Though they do not have acute breathing problem, we could not neglect them,” said Mr Radha Raman Banik, the Malda CMOH.

The Malda health workers started statutory door to door to visit from yesterday in the Bird Flu affected zone within three and up to 10 km radius from the Bird Flu affected village Mahanandapur in Chanchal I block in northern part of Malda district.

According to the CMOH, more than 600 people have reported that they are suffering from cough and cold with light fever.

“It does not mean that they are suffering from avian influenza. It is common phenomenon due to present cold wave. At least 10 percent of total population of this district is suffering from this disease. Comparatively the number identified 600 people out of 100,000 population is normal”, Mr. Banik said.

Today's rain has hampered surveillance job in the affected zone partly, he said.

“A total of 400 people, who are executing culling operation, will be quarantined for 10 days in Chanchal after the end of culling operation”, the Malda CMOH said.

The team of NICD along with the Malda CMOH today visited Chanchal area and examined the persons engaged in culling operation.

The ARD officials have collected blood samples of ailing birds from Kaliachak III block yesterday and from Kaliachak I block today from several villages according to the direction of doctors from NICD.

“The blood samples would be sent to Bhopal through state officials in Kolkata tonight”, said Mr N K ****, deputy director Malda animal resources development.

“Though we have culled more than 76,000 birds out of targeted 80,000 ones but we need two days more to complete culling operation. We need to review the present report to mop up the affected zone”, said Mr ****.

Though price of chicken and its rate of selling have decreased in Malda town following Bird Flu scare but sell of chicken being reared in private farm houses have been increased in rural belts like Kaliachak and block areas.

The people belonging to low-income group are buying chicken paying Rs 30 per kg, which comparatively lower than present price of beef, Rs 50 per kg.
Similarly the selling rate of egg and its price has fallen in Malda town. The Malda whole sale traders are receiving eggs from Andhra Pradesh with low rate and dumping in the clod storage now.

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=10&theme=&usrsess=1&id=188070

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Bengal Bird Flu Spread to Humans?

Government of India

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Status Report on Avian Influenza in West Bengal

(30.1.2008)

North 24 Parganas District has also been affected by Avian Influenza in poultry. The district-wise details on surveillance and health related activities in 0-3 Km area and 3-10 Km area around the epicenters are as under:

? Birbhum District

? The surveillance teams are conducting active surveillance in 0-3 Km area and in 3-10 Km Zone in the affected blocks
? Out of a population of 3,40,021 in 0-3 Kms of the epicenters in these blocks 3,33,353 have been covered on daily basis.
? Out of a population of 5,04,125 in 3-10 Kms of the epicenters 1,80,206 have been covered.
? A total of 834 persons [489 in 0-3 Km area and 345 in 3-10 km area] with fever/URI have been detected during surveillance. In the identified hospital 299 cases of fever/URI have reported. No one had exposure history to sick/ dead poultry.
? A total of 1269 animal health workers [veterinary surgeon, poultry workers, cullers, spraying workers etc.] have been medically examined/ followed up and 1 has been found unfit. All are under chemoprophylaxis.
? 802 Health personnel [medical officers, health supervisors and health workers] are involved in surveillance activities and they are also under cover of Tamiflu. 19 hospital staff have been examined.
? No suspected human cases of Avian Influenza have been detected

? South Dinajpur District:

? In 0-3 Km area, out of a total population of 1,79,657 the teams have covered a population of 32,977.
? In 3-10 Km area, survey is conducted in phases. They have covered a population of 21,260. There had been 37 fever/URI cases in 3-10 Km area. None of them had exposure history.
? Surveillance on Animal health workers who were involved in containment operations have been released. 187 Health personnel [medical officers, health supervisors and health workers] have been examined and they are under chemoprophylaxis.
? No suspected human cases of Avian Influenza have been detected.

? Murshidabad District:

? A population of 2,18,848 in 0-3 Km area is under daily surveillance. In 3-10 Km area a population of 1,36,493 have been covered.
? There had been 298 persons with Fever/URI. 21 had exposure history. They are being followed up. They have no signs of lower respiratory tract infection.
? 103 persons with fever/URI have reported in the hospital.
? A total of 1,546 animal health workers [veterinary surgeon, poultry workers, cullers, spraying workers etc.] and 1,367 Health personnel [medical officers, health supervisors and health workers] and 165 hospital staff have been medically examined. The personnel involved in the containment operations are under the cover of Tamiflu and are under medical supervision.
? No suspected human cases of Avian Influenza have been detected

? Nadia District:

? In 0-3 km area the teams have covered a population of 1,71,574
? In 3-10 Km area the teams have covered a population of 1,94,833
? A total of 638 persons [401 in 0-3 Km area and 237 in 3-10 km area] with fever/URI have been detected during surveillance. One person with Fever/ URI had exposure history. He is being followed up.
? In the hospital 108 persons with fever/URI have reported and none of them had exposure history. One person had exposure history. Two persons having fever/URI, admitted in the hospital and is under observation.
? A total of 1129 animal health workers [veterinary surgeon, poultry workers, cullers, spraying workers etc.] were examined and they are under chemoprophylaxis. 2 of them have been found medically unfit. 817 Health personnel [medical officers, health supervisors and health workers] and 43 hospital staff have been examined.
? No suspected human cases of Avian Influenza have been detected

? Burdwan District

? In 0-3 km area, out of a total population of 1,64,585 the teams have covered 1,51,141 persons.
? In 3-10 Km area, out of total population of 10,42,886 the teams have covered a population of 81,730.
? There had been 249 persons [171 in 0-3 Km area and 78 in 3-10 Km area] with URI/ Fever. None of them had exposure history
? In the hospital 46 persons with fever/URI have reported and none of them had exposure history
? A total of 642 animal health workers [veterinary surgeon, poultry workers, cullers, spraying workers etc.] examined and they are under chemoprophylaxis. 361 Health personnel [medical officers, health supervisors and health workers] have been examined.
? No suspected human cases of Avian Influenza have been detected

? Hooghly District

? In 0-3 Km area the total population of 30,923 have been covered.
? In 0-10 Km area, out of a population of 79,716 the teams have covered 24,967.
? A total of 216 persons have been detected [ 61 in 0-3 km area and 155 in 3-10 km area] with fever/URI with no exposure history.
? In the hospital 32 persons with fever/ URI have reported. None of them had exposure history.
? A total of 524 animal health workers [veterinary surgeon, poultry workers, cullers, spraying workers etc.] have been examined and they are under chemoprophylaxis. 71 Health personnel [medical officers, health supervisors and health workers] and 21 hospital staff are involved in surveillance activities.

? Bankura District

? Surveillance activity has started in 0-3 Km and 3-10 Km area.
? In 0-3 Km area a population of 9200 has been covered
? In 3-10 km area a population of 17,671 have been covered
? A total of 36 persons have been detected [7 in 0-3 Km area and 29 in 3-10 km area with fever/URI with no exposure history.
? A total of 140 animal health workers [veterinary surgeon, poultry workers, cullers, spraying workers etc.] and they are under chemoprophylaxis. 18 Health personnel [medical officers, health supervisors and health workers] and 15 hospital staff have also been medically examined.
? In the area under surveillance no suspected human cases of Avian Influenza have been detected

? Howrah District

? Surveillance activity has started in 0-3 Km and 3-10 Km area.
? In 0-3 Km area a population of 21,092 and in 3-10 Km the teams have covered 38,630.
? A total of 511 animal health workers [veterinary surgeon, poultry workers, cullers, spraying workers etc.] and 213 Health personnel [medical officers, health supervisors and health workers] have been examined and are under chemoprophylaxis.

? Purulia District

? Surveillance activity has started in 0-3 Km and 3-10 Km area.
? In 0-3 Km area a population of 3,653 and in 3-10 Km the teams have covered 9,180.
? 63 cases of fever/URI have been detected [18 in 0-3 Km area and 45 in 3-10 Km area]. None of them had exposure history.
? In the hospital 39 persons with fever/ URI have reported. None of them had exposure history.
? A total of 140 animal health workers [veterinary surgeon, poultry workers, cullers, spraying workers etc.] and 16 Health personnel [medical officers, health supervisors and health workers] are involved in containment operations and they are under chemoprophylaxis.

? Malda District

? Surveillance activity has started in 0-3 Km and 3-10 Km area.
? In 0-3 Km area a population of 25,393 have been covered. In 3-10 Km the teams have covered 53,829.
? 326 cases of fever/URI have been detected [112 in 0-3 Km area and 214 in 3-10 Km area]. 14 persons had exposure history. They are being followed up.
? A total of 487 animal health workers [veterinary surgeon, poultry workers, cullers, spraying workers etc.] and 456 Health personnel [medical officers, health supervisors and health workers] have been examined. The personnel in containment operations are under chemoprophylaxis. .

? States of Jharkhand, Bihar and Assam that share a common border with West Bengal have been instructed to ban and prevent any entry of poultry or poultry related products from West Bengal into these States. Other States have also been put on alert.

? MOHFW has supplied 4,20,000 capsules of Tamiflu, 5000 personal protective equipments, 5000 N-95 masks and 20 ventilators and 150 bottles of Tamiflu syrup.

? A stock of 10,000 Tamiflu and 500 PPE have been sent to the States of Assam, Bihar and Jharkhand.

? The IEC campaign initiated by MOHFW as stated in the earlier reports is continuing.

? Central RRTs have been deployed to all the thirteen districts. Trained Rapid Response teams from Gujarat and Goa have been deployed to the affected areas. The team from Maharashtra has been assigned the task of reviewing the preparedness in the unaffected districts of Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling and North Dinajpur.

? The manpower under Pulse-Polio programme supported by WHO has been requested to conduct surveillance for reporting influenza like illness in the districts adjoining affected areas of West Bengal. This includes the bordering districts of Assam, Jharkhand, Bihar, Tripura and Orissa.

? Hon?ble HFM reviewed the situation in a meeting held on 29.1.2008 with all stakeholders.
? The situation is being monitored on a daily basis.

http://mohfw.nic.in/Status%20Report%20on%20Avian%20Influenza%20in%20West%20Bengal-30.1.2008.doc

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Bengal Bird Flu Spread to Humans?

Government of India

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Status Report on Avian Influenza in West Bengal

(31.1.2008)

Number of affected districts remains the same.

A total population of 18.4 lakhs are under surveillance [10.38 lakhs in 0-3 Km area and 8.00 lakhs in 3-10 Km area].

Total number of URI/Fever cases found is 4,006. Rapid Response Teams of the State Govt. and Govt. of India are involved in the activity.

No suspected human cases of Avian Influenza have been detected


The district-wise details on surveillance and health related activities in 0-3 Km area and 3-10 Km area around the epicenters are as under:

more: http://mohfw.nic.in/Status%20Report%...-31.1.2008.pdf

Snip:

• Nadia District:



.. In 0-3 km area the teams have covered a population of 1,69,960
.. In 3-10 Km area the teams have covered a population of 2,51,100

.. A total of 856 persons [433 in 0-3 Km area and 423 in 3-10 km area] with
fever/URI have been detected during surveillance. Seven persons with Fever/
URI had exposure history. They are being followed up.

.. In the hospital 109 persons with fever/URI have reported and none of them
had exposure history. One person had exposure history. Two persons having
fever/URI, admitted in the hospital and are under observation.

.. A total of 1249 animal health workers [veterinary surgeon, poultry workers,
cullers, spraying workers etc.] were examined and they are under
chemoprophylaxis. 890 Health personnel [medical officers, health supervisors
and health workers] and 48 hospital staff have been examined.

.. No suspected human cases of Avian Influenza have been detected

[HenryN]

Re: Bengal Bird Flu Spread to Humans?

Human victim of Bird Flu feared
Statesman News Service
BALURGHAT. Jan, 31: Panic broke out at Mangalpur More, Jogomaya Para in Balurghat today, over the illness of a 17-year-old girl. The victim, Ms Priyanka Malakar has been admitted to the Balurghat Hospital with breathing trouble, high fever and rashes all over her body her body. Neighbours fear that the girl has fallen a victim to Bird Flu but the doctors are still not certain about it.
Admitting the matter, the CMOH, South Dinajpur Mr BB Mahapatra said that the symptoms were similar to human flu and measles. ?Nothing can be said for certain at this point. We are sending her blood samples for tests to Bhopal. She would be under observation till the test results reach us,? the CMOH, said.
Doctors treating the victim refused to comment on the matter, which has stoked further imagination and rumour.
The CMOH?s version has not been able to convince the Mangalpur residents, who suspect the girl has been contaminated with avian flu. ?Since we stay close to the victim's house, people are avoiding us,? lamented Priyanka's next door neighbours Mrs Swagata Saha and Mrs Bandana Guha.
The neighbours alleged that the culling teams engaged by the district administration had not visited their area although almost every house in that area had some chickens or ducks. The South Dinajpur district magistrate Mr Swapan Chatterjee, said that he had not been informed of the development. He was also unhappy to learn that culling teams were yet to visit the Jogomaya Para area. The DM assured to look into the matter.

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=10&theme=&usrsess=1&id=188216

[HenryN]

Re: Bengal Bird Flu Spread to Humans?

Commentary at

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/01310807/H5N1_Balurghat_2.html

[Treyfish]

Re: Bengal Bird Flu Spread to Humans?

Safety norms ignored for culling teams</ARTTITLE>
1 Feb 2008, 0228 hrs IST,TNN
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100&#37;" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 5px" colSpan=2></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top align=left><!--google_ad_region_start=article-->KOLKATA: In a major safety lapse, the state government allowed thousands of culling team members to go home and mingle with their families and friends without putting them in quarantine — a mandatory step to ensure none of them has contracted the deadly bird flu virus.

The state has only now realized this potentially deadly blunder and is summoning the cullers back to base camps where they will be isolated and put through tests for 10 days. The chief minister personally got into the act and held video conferences with district magistrates and sabhadhipatis to ensure that culling teams are quarantined after finishing operations. Armed policemen could be deployed to watch these camps.

"We have instructed DMs not to allow any culling team member to go home without being quarantined. They should also be administered Tamiflu tablets during culling and the quarantine period," said health minister Surjya Kanta Misra, who was present at the CM’s video conference along with animal resources development minister Anisur Rahman.

But by now, these culling team members - from Nadia, Hooghly, Birbhum and Murshidabad - have put at risk their families, neighbours and whoever they came in contact with. Officials who went to Malda and West Midnapore were the only ones to be quarantined.

"Even during quarantine, it has been noticed that many cullers leave the camps for most of the day to meet friends or relatives and only come back for the morning and evening roll call," said D P Chatterjee, the Haringhata BDO. If even one of them has contracted the H5N1 virus, there is a great risk of the deadly flu spreading, say health officials in Nadia. Many of those quarantined reportedly went out to have food because they did not like the meals served at base camps.

In Birbhum, leaders of some teams complained that about 700 cullers were released after merely being administered Tamiflu. They were not even asked to observe any extra precautions. "We were only advised to go to a doctor in case of high fever," said a culling team leader. However, district ARD official Sankar Das Bhowmik insists it is unlikely that any infection spread as a result of these team members going home after culling. Some cullers even complained that they were not being provided protective aprons.

In Hooghly, there is fear among culling team members, many of whom are refusing to take Tamiflu, a mandatory precaution. CMOH Bhusan Chakraborty admitted that the administration had failed to create awareness among the cullers. This is hindering operations in the district.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Safety_norms_ignored_for_culling_teams/rssarticleshow/2747339.cms

[HenryN]

Re: Bengal Bird Flu Spread to Humans?

Government of India
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Status Report on Avian Influenza in West Bengal

(

31.1.2008)

Number of affected districts remains the same. A total population of 18.4 lakhs are under surveillance [10.38 lakhs in 0-3 Km area and 8.00 lakhs in 3-10 Km area]. Total number of URI/Fever cases found is 4,006. Rapid Response Teams of the State Govt. and Govt. of India are involved in the activity. No suspected human cases of Avian Influenza have been detected
The district-wise details on surveillance and health related activities in 0-3 Km area and 3-10 Km area around the epicenters are as under:
<DIR><DIR>? Birbhum District

<DIR><DIR>�� The surveillance teams are conducting active surveillance in 0-3 Km area and in 3-10 Km Zone in the affected blocks

�� Out of a population of 3,40,021 in 0-3 Kms of the epicenters in these blocks 3,33,353 have been covered on daily basis.

�� Out of a population of 5,04,125 in 3-10 Kms of the epicenters 1,80,206 have been covered.

�� A total of 834 persons [489 in 0-3 Km area and 345 in 3-10 km area] with fever/URI have been detected during surveillance. In the identified hospital 299 cases of fever/URI have reported. No one had exposure history to sick/ dead poultry.

�� A total of 1269 animal health workers [veterinary surgeon, poultry workers, cullers, spraying workers etc.] have been medically examined/ followed up and 1 has been found unfit. All are under chemoprophylaxis.

�� 802 Health personnel [medical officers, health supervisors and health workers] are involved in surveillance activities and they are also under cover of Tamiflu. 19 hospital staff have been examined.

�� No suspected human cases of Avian Influenza have been detected

</DIR></DIR>? South Dinajpur District:

<DIR><DIR>�� In 3-10 Km area, survey is conducted in phases. They have covered a population of 16,724. There had been 32 fever/URI cases in 3-10 Km area. None of them had exposure history.

�� 63 Health personnel [medical officers, health supervisors and health workers] have been examined. 25 of them are under chemoprophylaxis.

�� No suspected human cases of Avian Influenza have been detected.

</DIR></DIR>? Murshidabad District:

<DIR>�� A population of 95,260 in 0-3 Km area is under daily surveillance. In 3-10 Km area a population of 80,245 have been covered.

�� There had been 206 persons with Fever/URI. 16 persons had exposure history. They are being followed up. They have no signs of lower respiratory tract infection.

�� 97 persons with fever/URI have reported in the hospital.

�� A total of 651 animal health workers [veterinary surgeon, poultry workers, cullers, spraying workers etc.] and 946 Health personnel [medical officers, health supervisors and health workers] and 162 hospital staff have been medically examined. The personnel involved in the containment operations are under the cover of Tamiflu and are under medical supervision.

�� No suspected human cases of Avian Influenza have been detected

</DIR>? Nadia District:

<DIR>�� In 0-3 km area the teams have covered a population of 1,69,960

�� In 3-10 Km area the teams have covered a population of 2,51,100

�� A total of 856 persons [433 in 0-3 Km area and 423 in 3-10 km area] with fever/URI have been detected during surveillance. Seven persons with Fever/ URI had exposure history. They are being followed up.

�� In the hospital 109 persons with fever/URI have reported and none of them had exposure history. One person had exposure history. Two persons having fever/URI, admitted in the hospital and are under observation.

�� A total of 1249 animal health workers [veterinary surgeon, poultry workers, cullers, spraying workers etc.] were examined and they are under chemoprophylaxis. 890 Health personnel [medical officers, health supervisors and health workers] and 48 hospital staff have been examined.

�� No suspected human cases of Avian Influenza have been detected

</DIR>? Burdwan District

<DIR>�� In 0-3 km area, out of a total population of 1,64,585 the teams have covered 1,60,585 persons.

�� In 3-10 Km area, out of total population of 10,42,886 the teams have covered a population of 1,80,320.

�� There had been 251 persons [178 in 0-3 Km area and 73 in 3-10 Km area] with URI/ Fever. None of them had exposure history

�� In the hospital 42 persons with fever/URI have reported and none of them had exposure history

�� A total of 642 animal health workers [veterinary surgeon, poultry workers, cullers, spraying workers etc.] examined and they are under chemoprophylaxis. 391 Health personnel [medical officers, health supervisors and health workers] have been examined.

�� No suspected human cases of Avian Influenza have been detected

</DIR>? Hooghly District

<DIR>�� In 0-3 Km area a population of 30,410 have been covered.

�� In 0-10 Km area, out of a population of 79,716 the teams have covered 27,953.

�� A total of 135 persons have been detected [ 45 in 0-3 km area and 90 in 3-10 km area] with fever/URI with no exposure history.

�� In the hospital 50 persons with fever/ URI have reported. None of them had exposure history.

�� A total of 478 animal health workers [veterinary surgeon, poultry workers, cullers, spraying workers etc.] have been examined and they are under chemoprophylaxis. 114 Health personnel [medical officers, health supervisors and health workers] and 28 hospital staff are involved in surveillance activities.

</DIR>? Bankura District [As on 30.1.2008]

<DIR>�� Surveillance activity has started in 0-3 Km and 3-10 Km area.

�� In 0-3 Km area a population of 9200 has been covered

�� In 3-10 km area a population of 17,671 have been covered

�� A total of 36 persons have been detected [7 in 0-3 Km area and 29 in 3-10 km area with fever/URI with no exposure history.

�� A total of 140 animal health workers [veterinary surgeon, poultry workers, cullers, spraying workers etc.] and they are under chemoprophylaxis. 18 Health personnel [medical officers, health supervisors and health workers] and 15 hospital staff have also been medically examined.

�� In the area under surveillance no suspected human cases of Avian Influenza have been detected

</DIR>? Howrah District

<DIR>�� Surveillance activity has started in 0-3 Km and 3-10 Km area.

�� In 0-3 Km area a population of 53,487 and in 3-10 Km the teams have covered 57,261.

�� In 0-3 Km area 13 persons have been found with fever/URI with no exposure history

�� In the hospital 50 persons with fever/ URI have reported. None of them had exposure history

�� A total of 511 animal health workers [veterinary surgeon, poultry workers, cullers, spraying workers etc.] and 213 Health personnel [medical officers, health supervisors and health workers] have been examined and are under chemoprophylaxis.

</DIR>? Purulia District [As on 30.1.2008]

<DIR>�� Surveillance activity has started in 0-3 Km and 3-10 Km area.

�� In 0-3 Km area a population of 3,653 and in 3-10 Km the teams have covered 9,180.

�� 63 cases of fever/URI have been detected [18 in 0-3 Km area and 45 in 3-10 Km area]. None of them had exposure history.

�� In the hospital 39 persons with fever/ URI have reported. None of them had exposure history.

�� A total of 140 animal health workers [veterinary surgeon, poultry workers, cullers, spraying workers etc.] and 16 Health personnel [medical officers, health supervisors and health workers] are involved in containment operations and they are under chemoprophylaxis.

</DIR>? Malda District

<DIR>�� Surveillance activity has started in 0-3 Km and 3-10 Km area.

�� In 0-3 Km area a population of 33,532 have been covered. In 3-10 Km the teams have covered 45,566.

�� 667 cases of fever/URI have been detected [384 in 0-3 Km area and 283 in 3-10 Km area]. 9 persons had exposure history. They are being followed up.

�� A total of 440 animal health workers [veterinary surgeon, poultry workers, cullers, spraying workers etc.] The personnel in containment operations are under chemoprophylaxis. .

</DIR>? States of Jharkhand, Bihar and Assam that share a common border with West Bengal have been instructed to ban and prevent any entry of poultry or poultry related products from West Bengal into these States. Other States have also been put on alert.

? MOHFW has supplied 4,20,000 capsules of Tamiflu, 5000 personal protective equipments, 5000 N-95 masks and 20 ventilators and 150 bottles of Tamiflu syrup.

? A stock of 10,000 Tamiflu and 500 PPE have been sent to the States of Assam, Bihar and Jharkhand.

? The IEC campaign initiated by MOHFW as stated in the earlier reports is continuing.

? Central RRTs have been deployed to all the districts. Trained Rapid Response teams from Gujarat and Goa have been deployed to the affected areas. The team from Maharashtra has been assigned the task of reviewing the preparedness in the unaffected districts of Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling and North Dinajpur.

? The manpower under Pulse-Polio programme supported by WHO has been requested to conduct surveillance for reporting influenza like illness in the districts adjoining affected areas of West Bengal. This includes the bordering districts of Assam, Jharkhand, Bihar, Tripura and Orissa.

? The situation is being monitored on a daily basis.

http://mohfw.nic.in/Status%20Report%20on%20Avian%20Influenza%20in%20West%20Bengal-31.1.2008.pdf

</DIR></DIR>

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Bengal Bird Flu Spread to Humans?

India isolates 26 people on bird flu fears

Fri 1 Feb 2008,

By Bappa Majumdar

KOLKATA, India, Feb 1 (Reuters) - India put 26 people in isolation after they fell sick while culling poultry in a state affected by bird flu, while medical staff were monitoring hundreds of others, officials said on Friday.

Those quarantined in the eastern state of West Bengal complained of fever and respiratory distress over the past few days, but health staff said it was unlikely they had bird flu.

India has not reported any human infection of the H5N1 bird flu virus in its four outbreaks of avian influenza since 2006.

"The preliminary tests for bird flu are negative, but more tests are being conducted and the list of sick people reviewed every day," R.S.

http://africa.reuters.com/commodities/news/usnSP11091.html

[HenryN]

Re: Bengal Bird Flu Spread to Humans?

West Bengal isolates 26 people on bird flu fears

Fri Feb 1, 2008 2:55pm IST
By Bappa Majumdar
KOLKATA (Reuters) - India put 26 people in isolation after they fell sick while culling poultry in a state affected by bird flu, while medical staff were monitoring hundreds of others, officials said on Friday.
Those quarantined in West Bengal complained of fever and respiratory distress over the past few days, but health staff said it was unlikely they had bird flu.
India has not reported any human infection of the H5N1 bird flu virus in its four outbreaks of avian influenza since 2006.
"The preliminary tests for bird flu are negative, but more tests are being conducted and the list of sick people reviewed every day," R.S. Shukla, a senior health official, told Reuters.
Bird flu has spread to 13 of West Bengal's 19 districts. Veterinary staff have culled 2.6 million birds, completing what officials said was a successful operation that had brought the bird flu situation under control.
The focus now is on hundreds of medical and veterinary workers and villagers who had come into close contact with dead or sick birds. Officials said health staff returning home after the culling operation had been asked to get themselves checked.
Dozens of isolation wards had been created in hospitals in the affected districts to handle any sudden rush of suspected human cases.
Experts fear the H5N1 strain could mutate into a form easily transmitted from person to person, leading to a pandemic, especially in countries such as India where people live in close proximity to backyard poultry.
"We are aware of the consequences of a possible human infection and we are taking all possible measures," Surjya Kanta Mishra, the state's health minister said.
Bird deaths were reported from the north Indian state of Haryana, close to New Delhi, but authorities said preliminary tests for bird flu had turned up negative.
"There have been some deaths, but these are due to septicaemia and not avian flu," V.P Nehra, a senior animal husbandry official said.

http://in.reuters.com/article/topNew...080201?rpc=401&

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Bengal Bird Flu Spread to Humans?

Daily update from Dep of Health

Government of India

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Status Report on Avian Influenza in West Bengal
(1.2.2008)

Number of affected districts remains the same. A total population of 18.4 lakhs is under surveillance [10.38 lakhs in 0-3 Km area and 8.00 lakhs in 3-10 Km area]. Rapid Response Teams of the State Govt. and Govt. of India are involved in the activity.

No suspected human cases of Avian Influenza have been detected.

- snips -

From Nadia

Two persons having fever/URI, admitted in the hospital and are under observation.

From Howrah

In the hospital one person with fever/ URI has reported who had no exposure history.

From Purulia

In the hospital 37 persons with fever/ URI have reported. None of them had exposure history.

From Cooch Behar

In the hospital 3 persons with fever/URI have reported but had no exposure history.

From Malda

11 persons with fever/URI reported in the hospital and none of them had exposure history.

From Paschim Medinapur

512 persons with fever/URI reported in the hospital and none of them had exposure history. There are 17 inpatients. No exposure history.

http://mohfw.nic.in/Status%20Report%20on%20Avian%20Influenza%20in%20West%20Bengal-1.2.2008.doc

[Treyfish]

Re: Bengal Bird Flu Spread to Humans?


India isolates 26 people as bird flu spreads
<SMALL>Last Updated: 2008-02-01 9:53:41 -0400 (Reuters Health)</SMALL>
By Bappa Majumdar
KOLKATA, India (Reuters) - India has isolated 26 people with bird flu symptoms and hundreds more are being monitored, officials said on Friday as Pakistan and Thailand also reported outbreaks of bird flu in poultry.
India is battling its worst outbreak of avian influenza, which has spread to 13 of West Bengal's 19 districts. The densely populated state is adjacent to Bangladesh, itself trying to control a major outbreak of bird flu, and has millions of backyard fowl.
India has not reported any human infection of the H5N1 bird flu virus in its four outbreaks of avian influenza since 2006.
"The preliminary tests for bird flu are negative, but more tests are being conducted and the list of sick people reviewed every day," R.S. Shukla, a senior health official, told Reuters.
To the west in neighboring Pakistan, authorities said bird flu had been detected at a poultry farm on the outskirts of its biggest city, Karachi.
But officials said on Friday there was no likelihood of any human infection.
"We are now monitoring the workers on the farm as well as another one adjacent to it," said an official of the Sindh provincial government.
In Thailand, the virus has been found in a second province in the north.
Tests confirmed the outbreak in Phichit, 215 miles north of Bangkok, where about 30 village chickens died last week, Livestock Development Department chief Sakchai Sriboonsue said.
There were four outbreaks in Thailand last year, but no new reports of human infections in the country where H5N1 has killed 17 people since 2003.
In Indonesia, 102 people have died of the disease.
In the latest case, the health ministry said on Friday a woman who had lived near a poultry slaughterhouse on the outskirts of the capital Jakarta died of multiple-organ failure.
The woman, 31, is the seventh person to die of bird flu in Indonesia this year and some experts say the flare-up is caused by a combination of factors such as rainy weather and poor sanitation.
Not including the latest death, bird flu has killed 224 people in a dozen countries since late 2003, the World Health Organisation says.
MEDICAL WORKERS AT RISK
In West Bengal, veterinary staff has culled 2.6 million birds, completing what officials said was a successful operation that had brought the bird flu situation under control.
The focus now is on hundreds of medical and veterinary workers and villagers who had come into close contact with dead or sick birds. Officials said health staff returning home after the culling operation had been asked to get themselves checked.
Dozens of isolation wards had been created in hospitals in the affected districts to handle any sudden rush of suspected human cases.
Experts fear the H5N1 strain could mutate into a form easily transmitted from person to person, leading to a pandemic, especially in countries such as India where people live in close proximity to backyard poultry.
Health experts also worry about the situation in Bangladesh, a crowded country of 140 million people where bird flu has spread to nearly half of the country's 64 districts.
Livestock officials said bird flu was still spreading and had resurfaced in the Feni district southeast of Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka. The government has ordered culling of all chickens and ducks in one kilometer radius around affected farms.
The virus is threatening the livelihoods of millions of people reliant on the country's poultry industry and driving up food prices.
"Now we are facing a critical situation, as bird flu struck at a time when commodity prices from rice, flour to milk powder and edible oil had already nearly doubled," said Shahedul Alam, a government employee.
Chicken prices in markets in the capital dropped 25 percent over the past two weeks, while the price of eggs has fallen 20 percent or more.
Bird flu has also meant trouble for parts of India's poultry business.
Egg exports from the world's second largest producer have dropped about 50 percent in the past two weeks, leaving the industry with losses of around $20 million, trade officials said. http://www.reutershealth.com/archive...01elin007.html

[Treyfish]

Re: Bengal Bird Flu Spread to Humans?

WB govt admits initial lapses in tackling bird flu
KOLKATA: West Bengal government on Friday admitted there were lapses in quarantining culling teams which left without being quarantined and cullers returned to their families posing a potential health hazard.
"Noting the initial lapses, directives have been issued that culling team members must be quarantined for seven days to prevent contracting the H5N1 virus,'' Animal Resources Development Minister Anisur Rahaman said.
Admitting that there were lapses by culling team members after bird flu was declared in Birbhum on January 15, Rahaman said they were later examined by doctors and there was no fear of human infection.
Reports from some of the affected districts like Birbhum and Murshidabad earlier said that some culling team members left quarantine to meet their families posing a potential health hazard.
The minister said district authorities had been asked to ensure that cullers were given Tamiflu tablets during the culling period and also in quarantine, he said.
On January 28, 180-185 Animal Resource Development department personnel who had gone to Birbhum district on January 20 from other parts of the state for culling in Rampurhat I block, the first to be declared bird flu-hit in the state, left without permission or being quarantined.
The minister said the number of culling teams had come down to 406 as of Friday, from about 1,000 a week ago. http://www.kaumudi.com/