India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)

Bird flu spreads to new areas in India's Assam

10 Dec 2008

GUWAHATI, India, Dec 10 (Reuters) - A fresh outbreak of bird flu in poultry was detected in northeastern India on Wednesday and authorities prepared to start culling thousands of chickens, a senior official said.

"Bird flu has spread to new areas. We have received confirmation that the H5N1 stain has infected chickens in government farms in Guwahati and parts of Dibrugarh and Kamrup districts," Ashim Kumar Kakoty, a senior veterinary official in the affected state of Assam, told Reuters.

More than 100, 000 chickens and ducks have been slaughtered in the past two weeks in more than four districts of the oil- and tea- rich state, after one village close to Guwahati -- the region's biggest city -- was hit by bird flu in late November.

Sale and movement of poultry in and around Guwahati has been prohibited and precautionary measures taken elsewhere.

Health workers have moved to affected areas to check people for any flu-like symptoms, although no human infections have been reported so far. (Reporting by Biswajyoti Das, Editing by Matthias Williams and Michael Roddy)

http://mobile.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP408727.htm

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)

Updated map

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=106484775090296685271.00045da2c3c24f4d59de3&t=p&ll=26.056783,93.109131&spn=4.667174,6.04248&z=7

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)

Updated map

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...74,6.04248&z=7

Confirmation at Dibrugah significantly extends spread.

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12100805/H5N1_Assam_NE.html

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)

red Flu alert sounded in Guwahati Zoo

<DL class=infoLinks><DT class=date>Date: <DD class=date>09/12/2008 <HR><DT class=source>Source: <DD class=source>Sentinel (Guwahati) <HR></DD></DL>Tags

• Animal Diseases,
• Assam,
• Avian Flu,
• Zoos

<HR>GUWAHATI, Dec 8: The outbreak of bird flu in Assam is confirmed after laboratory tests. Assam State Zoo and Botanical Garden has come up with various precautionary measures inside and in the surrounding areas of the zoo in the wake culling operations which had started in the state.
The zoo authorities said to The Sentinel that they have been keeping a close eye on the developments and are closely monitoring the situation inside the zoo with the forest department and veterinary specialists.
The zoo authorities are taking adequate care while dealing with birds brought from outside. They informed that the birds, before they are stationed inside the zoo campus, are at first treated and checked up at the Geetanagar Wild Life Range Campus. They are only brought inside the zoo once they have been passed safe by the veterinary specialists. In regards to food supplied to the animals similar precautions are being observed, the authorities informed. Supply of bird meat to the animals has been banned.
The employees of the zoo residing inside the campus have been issued adequate directions to refrain themselves from keeping hens and ducks in their homes as this may prove fatal. They are also directed not to bring birds meat from outside. In case they find any dead bird inside the campus they have been directed to inform the veterinary peoples or to dispose them outside the campus.
In order to keep the campus free from migratory birds which may drop in the campus, the authorities are keeping vigil across the campus. The campus is cleaned and dressed on a regular basis. The attendants of the animals are being given strict direction to wear masks and gloves while attending the animals in the zoo.

http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/node/263095

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)

Bird flu spreads to new areas
</B>Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, Dec 10 ? The dreaded bird flu has spread to several new areas in the State. According to official sources here, the virus of the disease has been found in the poultry populations of Municipal Ward Number 6 of Dibrugarh, Jalah village of Bejera area in Kamrup district, Khanapara Central Seed Rearing Farm here of the Veterinary Department and Nilibari village of Chirang District.

The Kamprup (Metro) District administration today prohibited the movement, sale, purchase and transportation of poultry and all types of poultry products, including meat, eggs either in cooked or raw form within the district area.

Meanwhile, culling operations in the affected areas of Kamrup (Rural), Kamrup (Metro), Barpeta and Nalbari districts are on, while, in the Hajo revenue circle area of Kamrup district, disinfection operations are on.

When asked for their observation on the rapid spread of the disease, experts here expressed doubt that migratory birds might have spread the virus of the disease and in cases of the sites where wetlands are not located in the adjacent areas, the virus might have spread from the birds transported from the affected areas.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/...d=dec1108/at07

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)

Bird Flu: Alert activated
Font size: morungexpress December 11, 2008 10:35:00
Dimapur, December 10 (MExN): The state?s department of Veterinary & Animal Husbandry today said the recent unusual deaths of poultry in Kamrup district of Assam confirms of the deadly Avian Influenza. Sharing her borders with Assam, Nagaland state is vulnerable to falling prey to the infection. For this matter, the department today issued a number of tips as a preparatory, control and containment measures, for the ?rapid response team? members, poultry farmers, handlers, sellers, transporters and consumers and citizens alike.
Active surveillance is advised to detect unusual sickness and high mortality in poultry and wild birds. These events are to be reported immediately to the nearest veterinary institution and department by fastest means so that ?samples will be collected for laboratory tests to confirm the disease?. All the DVOs, Vas and RRT members are to remain in full alert and prepared. Regular visits to high-density poultry units, especially in the poultry areas by veterinary doctors are a must, the department stipulated.
Illegal; trade in poultry, eggs and poultry products is strictly advised against for the reason that the trade could be a carrier of the dreaded disease. The department also advised against ?unnecessary contact? with poultry birds, droppings and feathers. There is a risk of infection through contact. In case of contact, the hands should be thoroughly washed with plenty of soap and water, the department advised.
The department also cautioned hat symptoms of the disease can be similar to the common flu, which are, difficulty in breathing, high fever, cold running nose, sore throat, eye infections and muscle ache. This is to be reported to the medical authorities, the department advised. Further, no situation of panic should be created.
?(The) administration can play a central role in absolute ban on movement of poultry, eggs, closure of shops etc in case of outbreak of (the) disease, for appropriate intervention? the department also stated. ?Unnecessary visitors? and equipments are to be prevented from visiting or entering farms as a ?bio-security? measure, the department said.
?Keep our birds in enclosures; safe disposal of dead/culled birds and disinfections are vital steps to control the spread of the disease. Today?s awareness and preparedness is financial gain and our safety in future? the department added.

http://www.morungexpress.com/frontpage/9454.html

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12..._WB_Again.html

Commentary

H5N1 Spread to West Bengal India
Recombinomics Commentary 13:14
December 10, 2008

Stray cases of bird flu have recently been detected in Assam's Kamrup district, West Bengal and in several districts of Bangladesh which shares a vast border with West Garo Hills district.

The above comments from an alert issued by Meghalaya suggest H5N1 has spread from the confirmed outbreaks in Assam to multiple locations in West Bengal and Bangladesh (see satellite map). Although not confirmed, such spread is not unexpected.

Bangladesh has already confirmed H5N1 in its northwest region (see map), which is near the above rumored outbreaks. Similarly, West Bengal, Tripura, and Mizoram have issued alerts, citing possible outbreaks in Bangladesh and one media report has cited unnatural poultry deaths in Tripura and Mizoram.

Last season there were also rumors of widespread H5N1 outbreaks in Bangladesh in January, when H5N1 was widely reported in West Bengal. Bangladesh subsequently confirmed H5N1 in record numbers in poultry, as well as dead crows and one human case in the slums of Dhaka.

Calcutta has also issued an alert, primarily focusing on wild birds, which have been acknowledged as the likely source for the rapidly expanding outbreak in Assam. In the past, and in the current outbreak, lab confirmation of outbreaks in India has lagged the spread. Last season culling was initiated in the absence of lab confirmation, and many locations with unnatural poultry deaths, such as Assam and Meghalaya, were not confirmed / reported as H5N1. Moreover, dead crows, dogs, jackals, and other wild birds reported in association with confirmed H5N1 in poultry were not reported as H5N1 positive in India, although dead crows were H5N1 confirmed in Bangladesh.

Thus, H5N1 spread into areas adjacent to Assam are expected, but confirmation of such outbreaks may be significantly delayed.


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[AlaskaDenise]

Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12..._Assam_NE.html

Commentary

Confirmed H5N1 Spread to Northeastern Assam India
Recombinomics Commentary 15:41
December 10, 2008

"Bird flu has spread to new areas. We have received confirmation that the H5N1 stain has infected chickens in government farms in Guwahati and parts of Dibrugarh and Kamrup districts," Ashim Kumar Kakoty, a senior veterinary official in the affected state of Assam, told Reuters.

The above comments describe the dramatic spread of H5N1 within Assam. Dibrugarh is in the far northeast corner of Assam (see updated map). It is 200 miles from the confirmed cases in Assam and 400 miles from the confirmed outbreak in Bangladesh (see satellite map), strongly suggesting that the spread is due to long range migratory birds and H5N1 is spreading unreported in areas between these two recently confirmed outbreaks.

Dibrugarh is near Mouling and Nampapha National Parks in Arunachal Pradesh, which is in the far northeast corner of India. The 200 miles to the closest border with Bangladesh make Bangladesh an unlikely source for this outbreak.

The long distance between the confirmed outbreaks in Dibrugarh and Bangladesh, support rumors of additional outbreaks in West Bengal and Bangladesh and suggest confirmation of multiple additional outbreaks in India and Bangladesh are likely.


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[Shiloh]

Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)

SOurce: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...ow/3820895.cms

Bird flu hits more areas of Assam
11 Dec 2008, 0209 hrs IST, Bikash Singh, ET Bureau

GUWAHATI: More areas of Assam are coming under bird flu virus.Fresh cases of bird flu have been detected at Khanapara in Guwahati, Dikom area of
Dibrugarh district in Upper Assam and Bejera area of Kamrup district.

Three districts of Assam, Kamrup, Nalbari and Barpeta district are witnessing the outbreak of HN51virus. Now two other districts of Kamrup (Metro) and Dibrugarh are witnessing the outbreak.

Sources in veterinary department said: ?Bird flu in a firm in Khanapara was confirmed after 30 birds perished in the last few days. The virus was also confirmed in the Dikom area in Dibrugarh district. The confirmation came after 300 chicks died recently. We will start culling operation of the birds in the farm from Thursday,? he said.
Sources in Kamrup metro district said sale and import of poultry and poultry products have been banned in the city.

?We have also put the health officials on alert to deal with health-related cases,? he said. In Dibrugarh about 40,000 birds will be culled. In Kamrup district, bird flu has been confirmed in Jalah village under Bejera area. Culling in Jalah will also start on Thursday, veterinary officials said.

Bird flu was also detected a Thakurchuba, Sarpara, Patgaon and Rampur under Kamrup district. Over three lakh birds are to be culled in the different districts.

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)

Commentary at

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12100806/H5N1_Chirang_Dibrugarh.html

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)

Bird flu hits more areas of Assam

11 Dec 2008, 0209 hrs IST, Bikash Singh, ET Bureau

GUWAHATI: More areas of Assam are coming under bird flu virus. Fresh cases of bird flu have been detected at Khanapara in Guwahati, Dikom area of
Dibrugarh district in Upper Assam and Bejera area of Kamrup district.
Three districts of Assam, Kamrup, Nalbari and Barpeta district are witnessing the outbreak of HN51virus. Now two other districts of Kamrup (Metro) and Dibrugarh are witnessing the outbreak.
Sources in veterinary department said: ?Bird flu in a firm in Khanapara was confirmed after 30 birds perished in the last few days. The virus was also confirmed in the Dikom area in Dibrugarh district. The confirmation came after 300 chicks died recently. We will start culling operation of the birds in the farm from Thursday,? he said.
Sources in Kamrup metro district said sale and import of poultry and poultry products have been banned in the city.
?We have also put the health officials on alert to deal with health-related cases,? he said. In Dibrugarh about 40,000 birds will be culled. In Kamrup district, bird flu has been confirmed in Jalah village under Bejera area. Culling in Jalah will also start on Thursday, veterinary officials said.
Bird flu was also detected a Thakurchuba, Sarpara, Patgaon and Rampur under Kamrup district. Over three lakh birds are to be culled in the different districts.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/Bird_flu_hits_more_areas_of_Assam/articleshow/3820895.cms

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=4 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=articleheader>Poultry ban after flu in Guwahati
</TD></TR><TR><TD class=articleauthor>OUR BUREAU</TD></TR><TR><TD class=story align=left>

Dec. 10: The Kamrup (metro) administration today banned the sale of all types of poultry and poultry products ? even in cooked form ? in the city after the highly-infectious bird flu was confirmed in the Khanapara area this evening.
Bird flu was also detected in Upper Assam for the first time since the latest outbreak last month after poultry samples from Dibrugarh were tested positive for the virulent H5N1 strain that causes avian influenza also known as bird flu.
The deputy director in the veterinary and animal husbandry department, Manoranjan Choudhary, said the ban in the city was imposed under Section 144 of the CrPC to prevent the spread of the disease.
Poultry samples collected from the Khanapara area and sent to the Bhopal-based High Security Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory on Monday, confirmed the presence of H5N1 strain this evening.
?The ban covers sale and import of all types of poultry including ducks and poultry products within the Kamrup (metro) district. The ban also includes sale of poultry and poultry products in cooked form,? Choudhary said.
He, however, added that a decision on culling of birds in the city was yet to be taken.
In the adjoining district of Kamrup where bird flu was first detected last month, the administration has already banned sale of poultry and poultry products.
An official of the veterinary department said that since November 28 when culling started in the Hajo area, nearly 2.5 lakh poultry birds had been culled till last night.
?We are yet to collate the number of poultry culled today,? the official said.
In Dibrugarh, the district administration this evening sounded an alert after samples collected from ward VI of the town were found positive.
A district administration official said that 22 rapid reaction teams had been kept ready and culling of birds in the entire town would be carried out from tomorrow morning.
Meghalaya today imposed a ban on the entry of poultry products from Assam and international border of Bangladesh with immediate effect.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/108121...y_10235328.jsp

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

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=heading style="HEIGHT: 20px" vAlign=top bgColor=#ffeeca height=20>Assam bird flu spreading at alarming rate
</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 4px; FONT-SIZE: 12px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; WIDTH: 100%; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; PADDING-TOP: 4px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana; HEIGHT: 75px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" vAlign=top> Dec 10
In Assam, the dreaded bird flu disease is spreading in an alarming dimension in many news areas even as culling of poultry birds are on in full swing. A top state Government official told AIR Guwahati Correspondent that around three lakh hens and ducks have so far been culled in the bird flu affected districts of Kamrup, Nalbari, Barpeta and Baksa districts. A high-level central Government team is monitoring the culling operation in the disease-affected areas. Entire state has been placed on high alert in view of outbreak of the disease. Prohibitory orders have been issued banning sale and movement of poultry birds in the affected districts. A close watch is being maintained on the migratory birds in all the reservoirs, wastelands and forest sanctuaries of the state. More than four hundred Rapid Response Teams have been formed across the state to take up culling operation.

http://164.100.52.41/news.asp?cat=State&id=ST2950&bigger=bigger

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

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)

Commentary at

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12...Dibrugarh.html

Commentary

H5N1 Confirmed in Two More Districts in Assam India
Recombinomics Commentary 21:15
December 10, 2008

According to official sources here, the virus of the disease has been found in the poultry populations of Municipal Ward Number 6 of Dibrugarh, Jalah village of Bejera area in Kamrup district, Khanapara Central Seed Rearing Farm here of the Veterinary Department and Nilibari village of Chirang District.

The above comments describe the confirmation of H5N1 in four areas in Assam, including two new districts, Chirang and Dibrugarh. Unnatural poultry deaths had been described in Chirang previously, but the deaths in Dibrugarh, which is more than 200 miles from the initial cases, extend the H5N1 infections across the full width of Assam, from Chirang in the west to Dibrugarh in the east (see updated map).

The rapid spread of H5N1 over such a large region, including northeastern and northwestern Assam reduces the likelihood that these outbreaks are linked to the confirmed H5N1 outbreak in Bangladesh. However, the sudden appearance of H5N1 over such an extended area suggests H5N1 has gone undetected in Assam in areas between the two new confirmations, and H5N1 has spread beyond Assam.

Media reports have implicated H5N1 in outbreaks in West Bengal and across the northern region of Bangladesh, but these additional outbreaks have not been confirmed or acknowledged by the regions implicated. Alerts have been sounded by states and countries adjacent to Assam, but only one media report described unnatural poultry deaths in these regions.

However, the spread and confirmations in Assam have been reported almost daily, so the H5N1 is unlikely to be confined by Assam’s borders. Alerts have been issued as far south as Calcutta and wild birds have been cited. Previously, dead wild birds have been associated with outbreaks in India and Bangladesh, but only Bangladesh has confirmed H5N1 in wild birds.

The rapid spread of H5N1 in Assam suggests more confirmations and unnatural bird deaths will continue, and may accelerate as the temperature drops.


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