India - Bird Flu in Poultry/Animals Jan 24+

[sharon sanders]

Re: India - Bird Flu in Poultry/Animals Jan 24+

Treyfish

<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="articleheader">Howrah falls as flu tightens grip
</td></tr><tr><td class="articleauthor">OUR BUREAU</td></tr><tr><td class="story" align="left">

Jan. 25: Only the width of the Hooghly stood between Calcutta and bird flu today with the virus confirmed in Howrah?s Sankrail. The addition of Purulia swelled the list of affected districts to 11.
?Samples sent from Sankrail in Howrah and Saturi block in Purulia have tested positive. Culling will start tomorrow,? animal resource development (ARD) secretary Dilip Chakraborty said.
Officials said there was no evidence of unusual chicken mortality in Calcutta?s lone organised poultry farm, a state-run one in Tollygunge. The city has no backyard poultry farms.
ARD minister Anisur Rahman acknowledged that the planned vigil on roads and railway platforms, to prevent smuggling of chickens from affected zones to the city, was hit by rain today. Even the monitoring of Calcutta?s markets suffered but culling did not, he said, with 3.5 lakh chickens killed.
To speed up the flu fight, the government has asked district officials to tell villagers they would not receive compensation unless they handed over their chickens for culling willingly.
?We are saying this only to pressure the villagers,? Rahman said. Several villages in Malda?s Chanchol have turned away culling teams, demanding an increased compensation.
Rahman said 13.6 lakh birds had been culled till tonight but the overall target of 21 lakh had not been revised since yesterday. Howrah has 12.5-lakh poultry and could alone bloat the target considerably, although culling will be confined to Sankrail.
District magistrate Khalil Ahmed said 80-odd culling teams would be deployed tomorrow in Howrah, just 700 metres from the city across the Hooghly.
Ahmed said the chicken samples that tested positive came from Masjidpara near Nalpur. The Purulia samples came from Ramchandrapur village, about 290km from Calcutta.

</td></tr><tr><td class="story" align="right" valign="top"></td></tr></tbody></table><script language="javascript"> <!-- if(agent.indexOf("msie") != -1) { document.writeln("</div>"); } //--> </script>
http://www.telegraphindia.com/108012...ry_8828885.jsp

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: India - Bird Flu in Poultry/Animals Jan 24+

Fish dying in Bengal:

There were reports on heavy rain, hampering the culling.

Heavy rain can do something with the water quality, causing fish to die?

Remember reports linking heavy rain and dead fish from my region in Holland.

If you Google "rain dead fish", you will find a lot of reports on this subject.

[Treyfish]

Re: India - Bird Flu in Poultry/Animals Jan 24+

Bird flu alert in bordering districts
Local administrations in some eastern districts bordering India have started taking measures to prevent possible spread of bird flu from Indian states.
The District Administration Office (DAO) of Siraha has banned the import of poultry products from India after cases of bird flu were reported in Bihar.
Banning the import of chicken, eggs, ducks and other birds from various border points in the district, the DAO has put the police and customs officials at high alert to check the import of such products, chief district officer Balkrishna Panthi told RSS.
Likewise, strict vigil is being maintained in the areas bordering West Bengal, India, citing the bird flu scare there. The Jhapa district administration has strictly banned import of live birds and poultry products from across the border.
Meanwhile, the District Livestock Office, Jhapa has said no symptom of the bird flu has been detected in the district. Source: nepalnews.com http://www.mediaforfreedom.com/ReadA...ArticleID=9295

[Treyfish]

Re: BANGLADESH: Return of the bird flu threat

India says no fresh reports of bird flu
27 Jan 2008 11:00:01 GMT
<!-- 27 Jan 2008 11:00:01 GMT ## for search indexer, do not remove -->Source: Reuters

<!-- AN5.0 article title end -->
<SCRIPT language=JavaScript src="/bin/js/article.js"></SCRIPT>
</SPAN> <!-- India says no fresh reports of bird flu --><!-- Reuters -->(Adds latest Bangladesh outbreak paragraphs 15-16)
By Bappa Majumdar
KOLKATA, India, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Authorities in eastern India fighting an outbreak of bird flu in poultry said on Sunday that there were no fresh reports of bird deaths but that the virus could still spread to new areas.
"The situation appears to be slowly coming under control, but we are still waiting for test reports of dead bird samples from a few other places," Anisur Rahaman, the animal resources minister for West Bengal, said on Sunday.
"It could still spread further," he added.
India's government says laboratory tests have confirmed the H5N1 flu virus strain in at least two of West Bengal's 19 districts, but said reports from 9 other districts were likely to be the same.
Experts fear the H5N1 strain could mutate into a form easily transmitted from person to person, leading to a pandemic.
Officials they were relieved as there no fresh bird deaths in the last two days in the state of 80 million people. There have also been no reported cases of humans being infected by the virus,
"But we are still checking sick people and poultry for bird flu and trying to stop the virus from hitting the bigger cities," Rahaman said.
Hundreds of policemen and veterinary staff were checking trucks carrying chickens and eggs to the state capital, Kolkata, one of India's biggest cities.
Authorities have banned dozens of poultry farms from sending products to Kolkata, barring a select 14, officials said.
"These farms can still send chickens to the city in sealed containers, but only after carrying out medical tests," Rahaman said.
Health officials continued to check markets for sick chickens and ducks on Sunday, but most people were opting for lambs and fish.
"I am virtually ruined," Nizam Ali, a poultry trader told a local television channel.
"I have sold just two chickens on a Sunday, compared to nearly a hundred last week," he said.
Neighbouring Bangladesh, struggling to contain bird flu, has banned the sale of poultry and eggs in several districts as the virus spread to more farms in the country, livestock ministry officials said on Sunday.
The government confirmed that bird flu has spread to another new coastal district of Bhola.
With the latest outbreak, 28 of its 64 districts have been affected by the deadly virus since March last year. http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP204372.htm

[sharon sanders]

Re: India - Bird Flu in Poultry/Animals Jan 24+

I have moved a post from this thread. It is a blog by an individual about the situation in India. Since we can not corroborate it, it is in the discussion forum. Please follow this link to the blog to view or make comments.

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51526


Thanks.

[Treyfish]

Re: India - Bird Flu in Poultry/Animals Jan 24+

Orissa seals border, bans poultry imports from West Bengal
Bhubaneswar, January 27, 2008


First Published: 14:19 IST(27/1/2008)
Last Updated: 14:26 IST(27/1/2008)


<!--Start of animated box-->
<!--End of top module--><!--Start of the story-->Orissa has sealed its borders with West Bengal and banned the import of poultry from the neighbouring state hit by bird flu to prevent the spread of the deadly virus, officials said on Sunday.
Prohibitory orders were clamped on Saturday night in at least 72 villages in Balasore district and several villages in Mayurbhanj district, Bishnupada Sethi, state director of the fishery and animal resource development department, told IANS.
Apart from sealing borders, hundreds of veterinary officials have been deployed to check vehicles coming in from West Bengal, he said.
On Saturday, officials seized two egg-laden trucks at Laxamananath check post, Sethi said.
Another truck seized was carrying around 400 poultry birds coming from West Bengal at Rajghat in Balasore, said a district veterinary official.
Nearly 30 veterinary teams have been moving from village to village in Balasore and checking poultry birds for any sign of the dreaded virus, he added. No bird has been found affected by the H5N1 virus in Orissa so far.
"We have asked the collectors of all 30 districts to remain alert and draw samples from birds that have flu-like symptoms," said Hrusikesh Panda, secretary of the fishery and animal resource development department.
We have placed advertisements in all newspapers and television channels, asking people not to panic, he added.
The prices of chicken and poultry products have fallen drastically in many parts of Orissa, official sources said. The price of a dressed chicken, which used to be Rs 80 per kg, has come down to Rs 40 in Balasore and Rs 60 in Bhubhaneswar.
Avian flu has spread to 11 districts of West Bengal - Birbhum, South Dinajpur, Murshidabad, Nadia, Burdwan, Bankura, Malda, Hooghly, Cooch Behar, Purulia and Howrah since breaking out on January 15.
The state's poultry industry says it has lost over Rs 1 billion ($25 million) ever since the outbreak.
On Friday, authorities in West Bengal said they had met nearly half the culling target by killing over one million poultry. The state has targeted to slaughter at least 2.1 million birds. http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryP...mports+from+WB

[HenryN]

Re: India - Bird Flu in Poultry/Animals Jan 24+

Notified Areas earmarked under Avian Influenza in West Bengal (As on 27.01.2008)

Sl.
No
District

SubDivision

Block/
Municipality
Block wise
Population
Eradication
Area Remarks

Rampurhat

Rampurhat I

Dahalbati village 159,148 Entire area of
block
Notification No. 80-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 15.01.2008

Rampurhat

Rampurhat II

Margram I & II
village
158,756 Entire area of
block
Notification No. 80-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 15.01.2008

Rampurhat

Nalhati I,

Dharampur village 209,314
within a
radius of 3
Km of foci
Notification No.136-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 22.01.2008

Rampurhat

Nalhati II

Sahebnagar,
Krishnapur,
Prasadpur village
106,942
within a
radius of 3
Km of foci
Notification No. 80-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 15.01.2008

Rampurhat

Nalhati
Municipality

Ward no. 1-6
Entire area of
municipality
Notification No.136-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 22.01.2008

Rampurhat

Mayureswar I

Kanachi, Jabumi,
Baraturigram,
Ghoshgram, Pisia,
Jamaipara.
Sibagram village
under Dakshingram
GP
139,677
within a
radius of 3
Km of foci
Notification No. 157-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 27.01.2008

Rampurhat

Mayureswar II:

Akuni, Mayureswar,
Thanpara villages
113,031
Within a
radius of 5
km of foci
Notification No.152-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 25.01.2008

Bolpur

Nanur Block

:
Sardanga village 193,788
within a
radius of 5
Km of foci
Notification No.108-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 20.01.2008

Sadar

Mohammad Bazar

:
Dilogram village 139,478
within a
radius of 5
Km of foci
Notification No.108-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 20.01.2008

Sadar

Khoyrasole :

Barhra
village 135,101
within a
radius of 5
Km of foci
Notification No.152-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 25.01.2008
1

Birbhum

Bolpur

Bolpur ? Sriniketan
Block

: Binodpur
village
178,111
within a
radius of 5
Km of foci
Notification No.136-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 22.01.2008
2

Dakshin
Dinajpur

Sadar

State Poultry Farm

,
Balurghat 135,516
within a
radius of 5
Km of Farm
Notification No. 80-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 15.01.2008

Kandi

Khargram

Palasi village 234,715 Entire area of
block
Notification No.106-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 19.01.2008

Kandi

Barwan

Munaikhandra 224,312 Entire area of
block - do -

Kandi

Kandi

: Bagacharsa
village 193,093
within a
radius of 5
Km of foci
Notification No.152-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 25.01.2008

Sadar

Nowda

Durgar village 196,021
within a
radius of 5
Km of foci
Notification No.106-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 19.01.2008

Lalbagh

Nabagram

Saidpur village 196,565
within a
radius of 5
Km of foci
- do -

Jangipur

Suti I

: Chaksaidpur
village 139,419
within a
radius of 5
Km of foci
Notification No.108-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 20.01.2008

Jangipur

Sagardighi block

:
sagardighi village 252,360
within a
radius of 5
Km of foci
Notification No.108-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 20.01.2008

Sadar

Beldanga I:

Gangapur village 259,139
within a
radius of 5
Km of foci
Notification No.108-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 20.01.2008

Sadar

Beldanga II:

Junarapara village 212,171
within a
radius of 5
Km of foci
Notification No.155-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 25.01.2008
3

Murshidabad

Jangipur SD

Shamsirganj:

Sahebnagar village
under Bhasaipaikar
GP
180,319
within a
radius of 5
Km of foci
Notification No.157-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 27.01.2008

Katwa

Mangolkote Block

a) Durmud under
Koichar II GP
b) Simulia under
Simulia I GP
c) Deulia under
Magalkot GP
d) Mallikpur under
Lekhuria GP
e) Bhadimpur under
Jhiloo I GP
233,944
within a
radius of 5
Km of foci
Notification No.106-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 19.01.2008

Kalna

Purbasthali II

Talbona village 188,149
within a
radius of 5
Km of foci
Notification No.106-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 19.01.2008
4

Bardhaman

Asansol

Jamuria Block :

Hijalgora GP, 112,799
within a
radius of 5
Km of foci
Notification No.107-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 20.01.2008

Asansol

Ward No. 22

Jamuria
Municipality

Pariharpur village
129,456
within a
radius of 5
Km of foci
Notification No.107-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 20.01.2008

Asansol

Ranigunj Block

:
Amrasota GP
Bansura vill,
Majhipara, Suripara
village
101,678
within a
radius of 5
Km of foci
Notification No.107-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 20.01.2008

Asansol

Asansol
Municipality

: Ward
No. 33 Girmint
Village,
Kakhoyan village,
Bongapara village
486,304
within a
radius of 5
Km of foci
Notification No.107-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 20.01.2008

Katwa

Ketugram I Block

:
Palita GP, Kantari
village
146,013
within a
radius of 5
Km of foci
Notification No.107-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 20.01.2008

Durgapur

Galsi I

:
Krihnarampur village 174,070
within a
radius of 5
Km of foci
Notification No.136-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 22.01.2008

Tehatta

Tehatta I

Basanti Nagar village 217,541
within a
radius of 5
Km of foci
Notification No.106-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 19.01.2008

Tehatta

Tehatta II

Paschimpara,
Kannirgur village
134,113
within a
radius of 5
Km of foci
Notification No.106-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 19.01.2008

Krishnanagar

Krishna nagar I,

Simultala, Bakultala
village
280,254
within a
radius of 5
Km of foci
Notification No.136-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 22.01.2008

Krishnanagar

Kaliganj:

Baraitna
village 290,845
within a
radius of 5
Km of foci
Notification No.108-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 20.01.2008

Krisnanagar

Nakashipara:

Muragacha Village 334,863
within a
radius of 5
Km of foci
Notification No.136-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 22.01.2008
5

Nadia

Kalyani

Haringhata

:
Subarnapur village 207,867
within a
radius of 5
Km of foci
Notification No.136-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 22.01.2008

Sadar

Saltora Block

:
Dahuka village 121,810
within a radius
of 5 Km of
foci
Notification No.108-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 20.01.2008
6

Bankura

Bishnupur

Mejhia

: Lalbazar
village 76,117
within a radius
of 5 Km of
foci
Notification No.136-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 22.01.2008
7

Malda

Chachol SD

Chachal I

:
Mahanandapur
Village
174,177
within a radius
of 5 Km of
foci
Notification No.136-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 22.01.2008

Dinhata

Dinhata I :

Jaridahata village 254,449
within a radius
of 5 Km of
foci
Notification No.139-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 23.01.2008
8

Cooch behar

Mathabhanga SD

Mathabhanga I:

Dighipur village
under Kurshamari
GP
186,658
within a radius
of 5 Km of
foci
Notification No.157-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 27.01.2008
9

Hooghly

Sadar

Balagar

: Gopalpur
village 214,710
within a radius
of 5 Km of
foci
Notification No.139-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 23.01.2008
10

Purulia

Raghunathpur SD

Santuri Block

:
Ramchandrapur
village
69,587
within a radius
of 5 Km of
foci
Notification No.152-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 25.01.2008
11

Howrah

Sadar

Sankrail Block

:
Nalpur Majidpara
village
290,924
within a radius
of 5 Km of
foci
Notification No.152-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 25.01.2008
12

Paschim
Midnapur

Kharagpur SD

Debra Block:

Chak bencha
village under
Snarpur ? Lowada
GP
255,220
within a radius
of 5 Km of
foci
Notification No.157-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 27.01.2008
13

South 24
Parganas

Alipore SD

Budge Budge II

Mallickpara village
under Kashipur
Alampur GP
173,446
within a radius
of 5 Km of
foci
Notification No.157-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 27.01.2008

Total Population
Coverage

795,643

Summary of affected areas at a glance:-

Sl. No. District Blocks Municipality Total

1 Birbhum 10 1 11
2 Dakshin Dinajpur 0 1 1
3 Murshidabad 10 0 10
4 Bardhaman 6 2 8
5 Nadia 6 0 6
6 Bankura 2 0 2
7 Malda 1 0 1
8 Coochbehar 2 0 2
9 Hooghly 1 0 1
10 Purulia 1 0 1
11 Howrah 1 0 1
12 Paschim Midnapur 1 0 1
13 South 24 Pargana 1 0 1

TOTAL 42 4 46

http://www.wbhealth.gov.in/AI_downloads/Bulletin%20Board/Notified%20area.pdf

[HenryN]

Re: India - Bird Flu in Poultry/Animals Jan 24+

The two new districts above are:

Paschim
Midnapur

Kharagpur SD

Debra Block:

Chak bencha
village under
Snarpur ? Lowada
GP
255,220
within a radius
of 5 Km of
foci
Notification No.157-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 27.01.2008
13

South 24
Parganas

Alipore SD

Budge Budge II

Mallickpara village
under Kashipur
Alampur GP
173,446
within a radius
of 5 Km of
foci
Notification No.157-
AR&AH/AD/P/4A-
35/06 dt 27.01.2008

[HenryN]

Re: India - Bird Flu in Poultry/Animals Jan 24+

13 district affected with birdflu in West Bengal</ARTTITLE>
27 Jan 2008, 1638 hrs IST,PTI

SMS NEWS to 58888 for latest updates
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top align=left>KOLKATA: Despite culling of birds being taken up in a war footing birdflu has spread to West Midnapore, taking the total number of districts in West Bengal affected by the disease to 13. Birdflu also spread to South 24 Parganas district.

The total number of avian influenza-affected districts in the state has gone upto 13 out of the 19 districts.

Some 15.75 lakh poultry have been culled so far out of the target of 22 lakh, West Bengal Animal Resources Development Minister Anisur Rehman said here on Sunday.

"Of the targeted 22 lakh we have been able to cull nearly 15.75 lakh hens and cocks and 1.25 lakh have died. The rest of the lot will be completed by tomorrow," Rehman told a press conference here with Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta.

"Four districts - South Dinajpur, Nadia, Burdwan and Bankura have completed their culling operations."

In the remaining districts culling will be completed soon, Rehman said.

The state government has sent 816 more samples for testing and results will come by Monday.

"If there are any positive samples then we will have to increase the surveillance in the area. So at present we cannot say that the thing is over but the situation is definitely under control," he added.

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/rssarticleshow/msid-2735383,prtpage-1.cms

[HenryN]

Re: India - Bird Flu in Poultry/Animals Jan 24+

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=4>Bird flu spreads in new area of affected Howrah district</ARTTITLE>
27 Jan, 2008, 1145 hrs IST, <ARTAG>PTI</ARTAG>
</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px" vAlign=top align=middle width="100%" colSpan=4><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top align=left>KOLKATA: With the detection of fresh cases of bird flu in another block of the affected Howrah district, steps are being taken to keep Kolkata insulated from the disease.

ARD minister Anisur Rehman told PTI poultry products from the affected areas would not be allowed to enter Kolkata.

Kolkata Municipal Corporation has formed eight teams to to keep the metropolis insulated from bird flu which has already reached adjoining Howrah and Hooghly districts.

The teams were moving in different parts of the city to monitor the situation.

The disease has gripped 11 of the 19 districts of the state, where nearly 13.50 lakh birds were culled till yesterday and another eight lakh remained to be culled.

The affected districts are Birbhum, South Dinajpur, Murshidabad, Nadia, Burdwan, Bankura, Malda, Coochbehar, Hooghly, Purulia and Howrah.

Culling was over in Hooghly, Burdwan, Bankura, South Dinajpur and Nadia districts.

With an improvement in the weather today, Rapid Response Teams were hopeful of meeting their daily culling targets.

Rains had hampered culling in many areas yesterday. Eleven teams were carrying out culling operations at Panchla block in Howrah district, which tested positive for bird flu yesterday. Over 2000 poultry were culled in the block till 9 pm last night.

Earlier, Sankrail block of the district had tested positive for avian influenza. Fifty-two teams were carrying out culling in seven gram panchayat areas of the block and had killed 4,767 chicken till last night.

There were no reports of poultry deaths from the remaining 12 blocks of the district.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-2734914,prtpage-1.cms

</TD></TR><TR><TD height=10></TD></TR><TR><TD align=right></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[Treyfish]

Re: India - Bird Flu in Poultry/Animals Jan 24+

<TABLE class=ap-story-table style="veritcal-align: :top" border=0><TBODY><TR class=ap-story-tr><TD class=ap-story-td>Jan 27, 6:43 AM EST


Bird flu in India spreads to 2 new districts
By MANIK BANERJEE
Associated Press Writer

</TD></TR><TR><TD><!-- Story-MediaBoxPosition: 0 --><!-- MediaBox: 15494864 Created : 2008/1/27 06:43:48 Modified : 2008/1/27 06:43:48 Generated: 2008/1/27 06:43:49 --><TABLE class=ap-mediabox-table style="CLEAR: both; MARGIN-TOP: 10px; FLOAT: right; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 3px; MARGIN-LEFT: 3px" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR class=ap-mediabox-tr><TD class=ap-mediabox-td><!-- Package: 1504282: online Created: 2008/1/27 06:43:48 Modified: 2008/1/27 06:43:48 Generated: 2008/1/27 06:43:49 --><!-- SmallPhoto: 3042869 Created: 2008/1/23 07:39:31 Modified: 2008/1/23 07:39:32 Generated: 2008/1/27 06:43:49 --><TABLE class=ap-smallphoto-table cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR class=ap-smallphoto-tr><TD class=ap-smallphoto-td-image>
AP Photo/Sasanka Sen</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- /SmallPhoto: 3042869 --><!-- /Package: 1504282 --></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- /MediaBox: 15494864 --><!-- /Story-MediuaBoxPosition: 0 -->CALCUTTA, India (AP) -- India's worst bird flu outbreak spread to two new districts, a senior government official said Sunday, as entry points to the eastern city of Calcutta were being closely watched amid fears the disease could spread to the crowded city.
Officials in the state of West Bengal, the center of the outbreak, have been struggling to contain the disease, which now has spread to 13 of the state's 19 districts.
"We have very strict surveillance on all the entry points to the city and we have earmarked 14 reputed poultry farms that maintain proper safety measures," state Animal Husbandry Minister Anisur Rahman told reporters.
All poultry sold in the city's teeming markets will now be sourced from one of the farms considered safe, Rahman said. All markets in the city also would be closely watched, he said.
The outbreak of the virus has so far been largely confined to rural areas, but there have been concerns it might spread to Calcutta, one of India's biggest cities with a population of 14 million.
On Friday authorities had confirmed the disease had reached an area less than 10 kilometers (6 miles) away.
"We're trying our best and taking all necessary measures that are needed to control the spread," Rahman said.
The government's efforts to slaughter as many as 2 million birds have been slowed by a shortage of qualified personnel, bad weather and a lack of public understanding about the disease.
With the samples from the new districts testing positive, Rahman said that the total number of birds to be slaughtered would increase. He gave no numbers.
Officials have killed roughly 1.6 million birds, mainly chickens, since Jan. 15 and will continue slaughtering birds that may have been infected over the weekend, Rahman said.
India has contained two previous outbreaks of the disease, both on large poultry farms. The latest outbreak has largely affected chickens kept by peasants in their small yards, and many villagers were unaware of the danger of the disease.
A powerful strain of the bird flu virus has killed at least 221 people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Although it remains difficult for humans to catch, experts fear it will mutate into a new form that spreads easily among people, potentially sparking a pandemic.

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http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_GEN_INDIA_BIRD_FLU_ASOL-?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2008-01-27-06-43-48

[HenryN]

Re: India - Bird Flu in Poultry/Animals Jan 24+

Bird flu continues to spread in Bengal, outpacing culling


Submitted by Mudassir Rizwan on Sun, 01/27/2008 - 11:25.

• India News

By IANS
Kolkata : The deadly H5N1 virus Sunday spread to two more districts in West Bengal, confirmed barely an hour after the Communist government in the eastern Indian state declared the bird flu situation as "under control".
With this, 13 of the 19 West Bengal districts are in the grip of avian influenza.
"We have two more districts, South 24 Parganas adjoining Kolkata and West Midnapore, in the grip of bird flu. The affected area in South 24 Parganas is in Budge Budge (Kashipore and Alampur panchayat areas) and in West Midnapore it is Chawkbecha village under Lowada panchayat area," West Bengal Animal Husbandry Minister Anisur Rahman told IANS.
Budge Budge is barely 15 km from Kolkata.
"We were hoping to complete culling operations by Monday, but now more time will be needed," he said.
Rahman said bird flu also spread to new places in districts like Cooch Behar (Mathabhanga) and Murshidabad (Samshergunge) that were already affected.
Rahman confirmed the new infections an hour after he held a press meet with Health Minister Surya Kanta Mishra and Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta and declared the bird flu situation was under control.
West Bengal had set a target to slaughter about 2.2 million birds by Monday. More than 1.5 million poultry birds were culled till Sunday morning despite inclement weather in the past two days.
"We have already culled around 1.57 million birds till Sunday. About 1,000 Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) and engaged in the work and the culling target of 2.2 million is likely to be completed by Monday. But the completion of the process would be now delayed by new infections," Rahman said.
Finance Minister Dasgupta said the rehabilitation package for those in the poultry sector would cost around Rs.1.5 billion in terms of soft loans, waivers, grants and Rs.250 million would be required for compensation to at least half a million affected families as they would be given Rs.500 each as immediate compensation.
He said the state government had disbursed Rs.85 million so far besides Rs.30 million from the central government. "We have sought another Rs.50 million from the central government now," he said.
The total loss from the culling and deaths of the birds from the flu itself was around Rs.1.5 billion, he said.
Senior health official R.S. Shukla said police and civic authorities were keeping a watch at Kolkata's all entry and exit points to prevent bird flu contamination in the metro of around 5 million people. The population of greater Kolkata is around 10 million.
He said only 14 poultries were identified to supply chicken and eggs to Kolkata.
Shukla said all 17 human samples, including of five women, sent for laboratory tests had proved negative.
The state government is making arrangements to equip sub-divisional hospitals with ventilators and Tamiflu tablets.
On Friday, authorities confirmed the disease had reached Sankrail in Howrah, barely 10 km from Kolkata. With Budge Budge confirming the presence of the virus, the threat to Kolkata only increased further.
The 13 avian flu affected districts are Birbhum, South Dinajpur, Murshidabad, Nadia, Burdwan, Bankura, Malda, Hooghly, Cooch Behar, Purulia, Howrah, South 24 Parganas and West Midnapore. The virus was first confirmed in Birbhum and South Dinajpur on Jan 15.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has described the situation in West Bengal as "serious".
The H5N1 virus causes a type of influenza in birds that is highly contagious. It does not usually infect people unless they come in close contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces.

http://www.indianmuslims.info/news/2008/jan/27/bird_flu_continues_spread_bengal_outpacing_culling.html

[Commonground]

Re: India - Bird Flu in Poultry/Animals Jan 24+

Shukla said all 17 human samples, including of five women, sent for laboratory tests had proved negative.

But exactly where?

[Treyfish]

Re: India - Bird Flu in Poultry/Animals Jan 24+

Bird flu: WB prepared if humans get affected, says minister
Author: PTI Date: 27 Jan 2008
Kolkata: Though nobody has tested positive so far, the state is fully prepared to face such a situation where human beings are found affected by H5N1 virus, <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = ST1 /><ST1:PLACE w:st="on">West Bengal</ST1:PLACE> Health Minister Surya Kanta Mishra said today. <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O /><O:P></O:P>
Addressing a press conference here, Mishra said that the government has sent 15 ventilators to sub-divisional hospitals in the bird flu-affected districts. <O:P></O:P>
The state government has asked the Centre to provide financial assistance for sending more ventilators to hospitals in the affected districts, he said. <O:P></O:P>
The sub-divisional hospitals have started maintaining isolation wards so that affected patients can be kept away from others to stop it from spreading. "The state government is also planning to buy more ventilators so that the district hospitals get fully prepared for any kind of consequences," Mishra said. <O:P></O:P>
The Health Minister also assured that the doctors of three medical colleges --- <ST1:PLACENAME w:st="on">Bankura</ST1:PLACENAME> <ST1:PLACENAME w:st="on">Medical</ST1:PLACENAME> <ST1:PLACETYPE w:st="on">College</ST1:PLACETYPE>, <ST1:PLACENAME w:st="on">Burdwan</ST1:PLACENAME> <ST1:PLACENAME w:st="on">Medical</ST1:PLACENAME> <ST1:PLACETYPE w:st="on">College</ST1:PLACETYPE> and <ST1:PLACE w:st="on"><ST1:PLACENAME w:st="on">North</ST1:PLACENAME> <ST1:PLACENAME w:st="on">Bengal</ST1:PLACENAME> <ST1:PLACENAME w:st="on">Medical</ST1:PLACENAME> <ST1:PLACETYPE w:st="on">College</ST1:PLACETYPE></ST1:PLACE> --- have been kept ready so that they can move to any part of the state at any point of time. <O:P></O:P>
He said the state government has requested the Centre to open a testing centre in Kolkata. "The testing is done only at NIV, Pune and in <ST1:CITY w:st="on"><ST1:PLACE w:st="on">Bhopal</ST1:PLACE></ST1:CITY>, but that takes a lot of time. So we have requested the Centre to open a testing centre in Kolkata. This will help the eastern and the north eastern part of the country," Mishra said. <O:P></O:P>
So far 12 lakh population have been kept under surveillance and 17 samples hade been sent for testing but none of the samples have tested positive, he added. http://www.mid-day.com/web/guest/new...T_5_groupId=14<O:P></O:P>

[Commonground]

Re: India - Bird Flu in Poultry/Animals Jan 24+

O.K. so the 17 negatives came out of Kolkata?

So far 12 lakh population have been kept under surveillance and 17 samples hade been sent for testing but none of the samples have tested positive, he added.