India - Bird Flu in Poultry/Animals Jan 24+

HenryN · Jan 30, 2008

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

India sprays markets, roads to halt bird flu outbreak

Wed Jan 30, 2008 6:34am GMT

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By Bappa Majumdar

KOLKATA, India, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Workers sprayed roads and markets in Kolkata with disinfectants and culled thousands of birds as authorities in eastern India battled to stop an outbreak of bird flu in poultry reaching the crowded city.

Bird flu has spread to 13 of West Bengal's 19 districts and authorities in the communist-ruled state said they were culling sick chickens in a private farm about an hour's drive from Kolkata, one of India's biggest cities.

"We are not taking chances as the farm reported bird deaths and preliminary tests suggest bird flu," Anisur Rahaman, the state's animal resources minister told Reuters.

Over 2 million birds have already been culled, but authorities now say they will slaughter thousands of more birds.

They will also ban rearing backyard poultry in infected districts for at least three months.

India was checking hundreds of villagers and health workers for possible symptoms of bird flu, officials said.

Experts fear the H5N1 strain could mutate into a form easily transmitted from person to person, leading to a pandemic, but there have been no reported human infections in India yet.

The World Health Organization has said it is India's most serious outbreak of bird flu. Authorities say a major problem is that most poultry in the state of 80 million people are raised in backyards and some farmers have resorted to hiding their birds from culling crews.

Farmers raise poultry to earn a little extra money or to ensure a reliable source of protein. Many also say compensation of $1 a bird is too low.

Authorities have stepped up efforts to ring-fence the outbreak to keep it spreading to major urban areas in West Bengal and to stop the virus crossing into other states.

Authorities banned selling chicken in Kolkata's Salt Lake area, eastern India's IT hub that houses offices of leading firms such as Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp and IBM.

They were also disinfecting roads and trucks linking Kolkata to neighbouring districts.

"We are trying to minimise the chances of the virus hitting Kolkata," Deb Dwaipayan Chattopadhyay, a senior health official, said.

Health workers in Kolkata, capital of the world's longest-serving democratically elected communist government, were also keeping watch on street markets, following reports of sick birds being smuggled into the city.

Authorities used loudspeakers and distributed leaflets in villages, asking people not eat infected poultry or eat animals dying suddenly.

Hundreds of goats, pigs and wild birds have died since the H5N1 virus hit West Bengal's Birbhum district earlier this month, the fourth outbreak of bird flu in India since 2006. But there has been no confirmation these deaths were due to the virus.

In neighbouring Bangladesh, media reports have said hundreds of crows have also died of bird flu. The virus has spread to nearly half of the country's 64 districts since March last year despite mass-culling of poultry after outbreaks are reported.

No human infections have been reported in Bangladesh. But the health authority has directed civil surgeons in all districts to create an isolation unit for treating suspected human cases.

The Indian government says laboratory tests have confirmed the H5N1 strain in at least two of West Bengal's 19 districts, but reports from 11 other districts were likely to be the same.

Authorities said the virus could have come from neighbouring Bangladesh, currently reeling under bird flu.

Most countries and all Indian states have banned poultry products from West Bengal. (Additional reporting in Dhaka by Ruma Paul; Editing by Alistair Scrutton and David Fogarty)

http://uk.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUKSP215414._CH_.242020080130

HenryN · Jan 30, 2008

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

Kolkata Under Siege From Bird Flu

Wednesday 30th of January 2008
Bird flu encircled this eastern India metropolis of over 15 million people Wednesday as West Bengal government officials started culling poultry in the 14th district of the state.

Officials began culling poultry in North 24 Parganas district after chicken deaths and preliminary tests conducted by the state government suggested the presence of the virus that causes the deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza.

'We are awaiting the report of the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL) in Bhopal but since the union government has permitted us to notify and start the culling, we began the process after our tests suggested the presence of the virus at Baduria in North 24 Parganas,' West Bengal Animal Husbandry Minister Anisur Rahman said Wednesday.

He, however, told IANS there were no fresh reports of chicken deaths except in a farm at Baduria, barely 50 km from Kolkata.

If the tests at the Bhopal laboratory confirm the bird flu, 14 of the 19 districts of the state would be under the grip of the deadly virus though 2.2 million birds have already been culled since the outbreak was reported Jan 15.

The 14 districts include North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas and Howrah, which encircle Kolkata. Hooghly, another affected district, is also very close.

Other bird flu affected districts in West Bengal are Birbhum, South Dinajpur, Murshidabad, Nadia, Burdwan, Bankura, Malda, Cooch Behar, Purulia and West Midnapore.

Rahman confirmed that the samples collected at Haringhata near Kalyani in Nadia district have tested positive. Bird flu was confirmed in three more blocks of Birbhum and Howrah districts Tuesday.

'As per the latest report received Tuesday from the HSADL in Bhopal, samples collected from Panchla block of Howrah district, Suri-I, Mayureswar-I and Nanoor blocks of Birbhum and Kalyani area of Nadia have tested positive for avian influenza,' the union agriculture ministry said in a statement in New Delhi Tuesday.

'It is gathered that the infection in new areas is not over a wide area but restricted to small pockets,' the statement added.

The union health ministry said that in West Bengal a total of 42 blocks covering 2,600 villages and four municipalities were under surveillance. So far, 1,998 cases of fever among humans have been reported from the state, of which two people had a history of contact with poultry.

'Health workers are keeping a close watch on the situation. There has been no human infection so far,' Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said in the national capital.

Rahman said: 'The situation is a little worrying. But the menace is now under control and the overall situation is improving.'

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has described the bird flu outbreak in West Bengal as 'serious'.

http://newspostindia.com/report-34173

HenryN · Jan 30, 2008

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

Government of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com

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Ministry of Health and Family Welfare<o

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Status Report on Avian Influenza in <st1lace w:st="on">West Bengal</st1lace> <o></o>

(29.1.2008)<o></o>

<o

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Number of districts affected by Avian Influenza in poultry remains the same. In the affected 13 districts, 42 blocks covering 2724 villages and four municipalities are involved. Out of these, 1061 villages are in 0-3 Km area where a population of 10,02,057 are under daily surveillance. 2,012 cases fever/URI have been reported, 23 of them had contact history with poultry. There are 1663 villages in the surveillance zone of 3-10 kms where a population of 6,72,891 have been surveyed. There had been 1692 fever/URI cases, five of them had exposure history. <o

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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: <o

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? Birbhum District <o

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<o

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? The surveillance teams are conducting active surveillance in 0-3 Km area and in 3-10 Km Zone in the affected blocks <o

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? Out of a population of 3,40,021 in 0-3 Kms of the epicenters in these blocks 3,26,030 have been covered on daily basis. <o

></o

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? Out of a population of 5,04,125 in 3-10 Kms of the epicenters 1,63,863 have been covered.<o

></o

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? A total of 1281 persons [801 in 0-3 Km area and 480 in 3-10 km area] with fever/URI have been detected during surveillance. In the identified hospital 209 cases of fever/URI have reported. No one had exposure history to sick/ dead poultry. <o

></o

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? A total of 2367 animal health workers [veterinary surgeon, poultry workers, cullers, spraying workers etc.] have been medically examined/ followed up and 3 have been found unfit. All are under chemoprophylaxis. <o

></o

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? 822 Health personnel [medical officers, health supervisors and health workers] are involved in surveillance activities and they are also under cover of Tamiflu. <o

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? No suspected human cases of Avian Influenza have been detected<o

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<o

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? South Dinajpur District: <o

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? In 0-3 Km area, out of a total population of 1,79,657 the teams have covered a population of 56,155.<o

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? In 3-10 Km area, survey is conducted in phases. They have covered a population of 23,221. <o

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? There had been 130 fever/URI cases [88 in 0-3 Km and 42 in 3-10 Km area]. None of them had exposure history. <o

></o

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? 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 medically examined. <o

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? No suspected human cases of Avian Influenza have been detected. <o

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? Murshidabad District: <o

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? A population of 2,77,904 in 0-3 Km area is under daily surveillance. In 3-10 Km area a population of 1,26,537 have been covered. <o

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? 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. <o

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? 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. <o

></o

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? A total of 1,711 animal health workers [veterinary surgeon, poultry workers, cullers, spraying workers etc.] and 1074 Health personnel [medical officers, health supervisors and health workers] and 191 hospital staff have been medically examined. The personnel involved in the containment operations are under the cover of Tamiflu and are under medical supervision. <o

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? No suspected human cases of Avian Influenza have been detected<o

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<o

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? Nadia District:<o

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<o

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? In 0-3 km area the teams have covered a population of 2,51,611<o

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? In 3-10 Km area the teams have covered a population of 2,53,393 <o

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? A total of 821 persons [206 in 0-3 Km area and 615 in 3-10 km area] with fever/URI have been detected during surveillance. 4 persons with Fever/ URI had exposure history. They are being followed up. <o

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? In the hospital 76 persons with fever/URI have reported and none of them had exposure history. <o

></o

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? A total of 1168 animal health workers [veterinary surgeon, poultry workers, cullers, spraying workers etc.] examined and they are under chemoprophylaxis. 2 of them have been found medically unfit. 941 Health personnel [medical officers, health supervisors and health workers] and 41 hospital staff have been examined. <o

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? No suspected human cases of Avian Influenza have been detected<o

></o

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<o

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? Burdwan District <o

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<o

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? In 0-3 km area, out of a total population of 1,64,585 the teams have covered 1,05,478 persons. <o

></o

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? In 3-10 Km area, out of total population of 10,42,886 the teams have covered a population of 75,019.<o

></o

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? There had been 304 persons [198 in 0-3 Km area and 106 in 3-10 Km area] with URI/ Fever. None of them had exposure history<o

></o

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? In the hospital 215 persons with fever/URI have reported and none of them had exposure history<o

></o

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? A total of 537 animal health workers [veterinary surgeon, poultry workers, cullers, spraying workers etc.] examined and they are under chemoprophylaxis. 414 Health personnel [medical officers, health supervisors and health workers] have been examined. <o

></o

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? No suspected human cases of Avian Influenza have been detected<o

></o

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<o

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? Hooghly District<o

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<o

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? In 0-3 Km area the total population of 30,923 have been covered.<o

></o

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? In 0-10 Km area, out of a population of 79,716 the teams have covered 14,409.<o

></o

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? A total of 280 persons have been detected [ 92 in 0-3 km area and 188 in 3-10 km area] with fever/URI with no exposure history. <o

></o

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? In the hospital 46 persons with fever/ URI have reported. None of them had exposure history. <o

></o

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? A total of 477 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. <o

></o

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<o

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? Bankura District<o

></o

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<o

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? Surveillance activity has started in 0-3 Km and 3-10 Km area. <o

></o

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? In 0-3 Km area a population of 9200 has been covered <o

></o

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? In 3-10 km area a population of 8182 have been covered<o

></o

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? A total of 12 persons have been detected in 3-10 km area with fever/URI with no exposure history. <o

></o

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? 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. <o

></o

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? In the area under surveillance no suspected human cases of Avian Influenza have been detected<o

></o

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<o

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? Howrah District [same status as on 28.1.2008]<o

></o

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<o

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? Surveillance activity has started in 0-3 Km and 3-10 Km area. <o

></o

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? In 0-3 Km area a population of 38,626 and in 3-10 Km the teams have covered 29,342. <o

></o

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? 147 cases of fever/URI have been detected [113 in 0-3 Km area and 34 in 3-10 Km area]. <o

></o

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? A total of 312 animal health workers [veterinary surgeon, poultry workers, cullers, spraying workers etc.] and 60 Health personnel [medical officers, health supervisors and health workers] are under chemoprophylaxis. . <o

></o

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<o

> </o

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? Purulia District<o

></o

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<o

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? Surveillance activity has started in 0-3 Km and 3-10 Km area. <o

></o

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? In 0-3 Km area a population of 3,552 and in 3-10 Km the teams have covered 6,991. <o

></o

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? 38 cases of fever/URI have been detected [9 in 0-3 Km area and 29 in 3-10 Km area]. <o

></o

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? In the hospital 57 persons with fever/ URI have reported. None of them had exposure history. <o

></o

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? A total of 122 animal health workers [veterinary surgeon, poultry workers, cullers, spraying workers etc.] and 34 Health personnel [medical officers, health supervisors and health workers] are involved in containment operations and they are under chemoprophylaxis. <o

></o

>
<o

> </o

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? Malda District<o

></o

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<o

> </o

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? Surveillance activity has started in 0-3 Km and 3-10 Km area. <o

></o

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? In 0-3 Km area a population of 16,804 have been covered. In 3-10 Km the teams have covered 37,875. <o

></o

>
? 602 cases of fever/URI have been detected [191 in 0-3 Km area and 493 in 3-10 Km area]. 19 persons had exposure history. They are being followed up.<o

></o

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? A total of 449 animal health workers [veterinary surgeon, poultry workers, cullers, spraying workers etc.] and 438 Health personnel [medical officers, health supervisors and health workers] have been examined. The personnel in containment operations are under chemoprophylaxis. . <o

></o

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<o

> </o

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? States of Jharkhand, Bihar and <st1:country-region w:st="on">Assam</st1:country-region> that share a common border with West Bengal have been instructed to ban and prevent any entry of poultry or poultry related products from <st1

lace w:st="on">West Bengal</st1

lace> into these States. Other States have also been put on alert. <o

></o

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<o

> </o

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? 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. <o

></o

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<o

> </o

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? A stock of 10,000 Tamiflu and 500 PPE have been sent to the States of Assam, <st1

lace w:st="on">Bihar</st1

lace> and Jharkhand. <o

></o

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<o

> </o

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

></o

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<o

> </o

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? Central RRTs have been deployed to all the thirteen districts. Trained Rapid Response teams from Gujarat and <st1

lace w:st="on">Goa</st1

lace> 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, <st1:City w:st="on">Darjeeling</st1:City> and <st1

lace w:st="on">North Dinajpur</st1

lace>. <o

></o

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<o

> </o

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? 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 <st1:country-region w:st="on">Assam</st1:country-region>, Jharkhand, <st1

lace w:st="on">Bihar</st1

lace>, Tripura and Orissa. <o

></o

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<o

> </o

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? Hon?ble HFM reviewed the situation in a meeting held today with all stakeholders. <o

></o

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<o

> </o

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? The situation is being monitored on a daily basis. <o

></o

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<o

> </o

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http://mohfw.nic.in/Status Report on Avian Influenza in West Bengal-29.1.2008.doc

HenryN · Jan 30, 2008

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

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/rssarticleshow/msid-2743044,prtpage-1.cms

Fresh bird flu case in Howrah</ARTTITLE>
30 Jan 2008, 1437 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>HOWRAH: Fresh outbreak of bird flu was reported in the disease-hit Howrah district on Wednesday.

District Magistrate Khalil Ahmed said samples from Uttar Panchla village under Panchla block, sent to the high-security Bhopal laboratory, tested positive this evening and fresh culling operation would be initiated in the area.

The administration has so far culled 1.5 lakh chicks in the district where bird flu had been reported in two blocks - Sankrail and another area of Panchla block - in the past three days, he said.

The culling operation in Uttar Panchla village had not earlier commenced as the area fell beyond the five km radius of other bird-flu affected parts of the district, the DM said.

At least 40,000 chicks has been culled in Panchla block so far.

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

HenryN · Jan 30, 2008

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

Test Articles News
Bird flu spreads in India's West Bengal, metro Kolkata on alert
By DPA
Jan 30, 2008, 10:43 GMT

New Delhi - The latest outbreak of bird flu in India spread to a 14th district in eastern West Bengal state while authorities in the capital Kolkata increased surveillance to stop the disease from reaching the city of 13 million, officials and news reports said Wednesday.
Culling operations were underway in North 24-Parganas, the latest district suspected of being hit by avian influenza, an official at a 24-hour control room set up by the animal husbandry department said.
More than 200 birds were found dead at a farm in the district but samples had not yet been confirmed for the H5N1 virus, the official added.
The outbreak of bird flu has been officially confirmed in 13 of West Bengal's 19 districts and in large areas of neighbouring Bangladesh.
North 24-Parganas, South 24-Parganas and Howrah districts all border Kolkata, where teams of animal health workers were carrying out strict surveillance at poultry markets, PTI news agency reported.
No human infection has been reported so far in what the World Health Organization described as the most serious outbreak of avian influenza in India.
Health workers have been conducting house-to-house surveys in the affected areas, a federal Health Ministry release said. A couple of thousand people were found to have fever but were not suspected of having avian influenza. Two of these had a history of exposure to infected poultry and were being monitored, the release said.
All personnel involved in culling operations were being given preventive medication and supplies of Tamiflu had also been sent to neighbouring states.
Jharkhand, Bihar and Assam states, which share a common border with West Bengal, had been instructed to prevent entry and ban sales of poultry from West Bengal.
More than 2.2 million fowl have been culled in West Bengal since the outbreak was confirmed on January 15. Nearly 130,000 birds had died in the state so far, an animal husbandry department release said.
The impact of the bird flu outbreak was being felt by the poultry industry across India as more people stopped buying chicken and eggs. The federal Agriculture Ministry had called a meeting of poultry industry representatives in Delhi Wednesday to discuss a relief package for farmers.
The government has also sought information from Bangladesh on the strains of the avian influenza currently circulating in that country in an attempt to trace the source the origin of the viral infection.
The Health Ministry asked the Ministry of External Affairs to seek details of the gene sequencing of the bird flu virus in Bangladesh.
'Once we cull the birds and do away with them, if again the infection comes we need to know where it has come from,' Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss was quoted as saying. The possibility of the disease being brought in by migratory birds was also being investigated, officials said.
All states bordering Bangladesh have been asked to tighten security and customs officials were instructed to check for any movement of poultry on the borders, PTI reported.
Avian influenza cases have been reported among birds in 60 countries over the past four years. Most of the 221 human deaths from the disease since 2003 have been reported in Asia with the highest number of fatalities in Indonesia and Vietnam.

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/testarticles/news/printer_1389120.php

HenryN · Jan 30, 2008

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

Culling operations begin as H5N1 spreads

Kolkata (PTI): Culling operations were on Wednesday taken up in North 24-Parganas district as fresh poultry deaths were reported from a farm in South 24-Parganas raising fears that the dreaded H5N1 virus might be spreading to the organised sector after affecting backyard poultry.
Official sources said 250 chicken died Wednesday morning at a private poultry farm under Maheshtala municipality in South 24-Parganas.
District health officials told PTI that there had been no instance of avian flu in the area earlier.
Blood samples have been collected from the farm situated at Benerpukur, health officials said.
Meanwhile, culling operations continued in Budge Budge in the district from where a large number of chicken deaths were earlier reported.
In North 24-Parganas, where bird flu has not been officially declared, culling has been taken up in Baduria, Swarupnagar and Habra blocks on "symptomatic evidence", District Magistrate Prabhat Mitra said on Wednesday.
Culling in backyard poultry and in poultry farms has been taken up in a radius of five km of the affected areas in the three blocks, the DM said.
Altogether 4000 chicken deaths had been reported from a private farm in Baduria on Tuesday.
With avian deaths reported from the district, Kolkata is now ringed by bird flu affected districts - South and North 24-Parganas besides, Howrah and Hooghly.
With birdflu knocking at the doors of the metropolis, the state government had on Tuesday allowed entry of chicken into the city from only 12 farms.
In Birbhum district from where avian influenza was first reported in the state on January 15, culling is being taken up on Wednesday in Suri I block, official sources said.
So far 8 lakh chicken have been culled in the district, the sources said.
Elsewhere in the district culling operations have ended and mopping up operations have started in six blocks and two muncipalities on Wednesday, the sources said.
The blocks are : Rampurhat I & II, Nalhati I & II, Maureshwar I & II, Bolpur-Sriniketan block I & II, Labhpur and Nanur. The municipalities are: Rampurhat and Nalhati.
In West Midnapur district, 20,000 chicken have been culled in 107 villages in Debra clock bordering East Midnapur.
A block level meeting is being held among officials of Debra block in West Midnapur and Panskura block in East Midnapur on Wednesday to take stock of the situation in the wake of reports that some farmers have sneaked into East Midnapur with their affected chicken at night.
East Midnapur has so far not reported any avian deaths.
In Nadia, culling of 10,000 chicken is being taken up in Santuri block. Twenty teams comprising five members each have taken up culling which is slated to end in the district on Wednesday.
Altogether 25,000 chicken have been culled in the district, including latest hit Kalyani, till Tuesday.
Culling teams have fanned out to Uttar Panchla village under Panchla block in Howrah district after samples sent to Bhopal tested positive Tuesday evening. Altogether 1.5 lakh chicks have been culled at Sankrail and Panchla blocks in the district.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/485200801301521.htm

HenryN · Jan 30, 2008

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

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=4 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=articleheader>Buddha deflects US flu offer to Delhi
</TD></TR><TR><TD class=articleauthor>OUR BUREAU </TD></TR><TR><TD class=story align=left><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=172 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=articleauthor align=left>Hidden from flu fighters, a chicken gives a boy company at his home in Birbhum on Tuesday. Picture by Pradip Sanyal </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Jan. 29: Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has asked chief secretary Amit Kiran Deb to talk to the Centre about America?s offer of help in combating bird flu.
?We have heard about the US offering us assistance to tackle bird flu in the state. Let our chief secretary talk to Delhi to explore what kind of assistance can be had from the US,? animal resource development minister Anisur Rahman quoted Bhattacharjee as saying at today?s cabinet meeting.
The chief minister is learnt to have suggested that if the US or China had any anti-H5N1 vaccine, ?we can study its feasibility?.
According to a US embassy spokesperson, Washington had on January 23 offered the state government assistance in checking the availability of the anti-viral drug Tamiflu from worldwide stocks, besides technical support for human and animal surveillance and diagnosis, and culling.
According to Rahman, Bhattacharjee has also sought the Centre?s help to find out if the virus has come in from Bangladesh.
?We have reports that 15 countries were hit by bird flu, of which Bangladesh, Egypt and Indonesia were the worst affected. We fear the avian influenza virus spread to our state from Bangladesh. But this has to be ascertained by Delhi,? the minister said.
Officials said the issue also figured at a meeting of the animal resource development (ARD) department in Delhi today, which was attended by Bengal resident commissioner Hem Pande.
The bird flu virus widened its reach in the state today with more samples from Nadia, Birbhum and Malda testing positive.
Harijanpalli in ward No. 2 of the Kalyani municipality in Nadia, about 40km from Calcutta, has been declared bird flu-hit.
The H5N1 virus was also confirmed in Suchpur, Baliguni and Bautia in Nanoor block of Birbhum, besides Karimpur in Suri I and Shiulia in Mayureswar I.
In Malda, bird flu was detected in Kaliachak I and Kaliachak III blocks. The ARD has sent culling teams there.
In Baduria, North-24 Parganas, about 73km from Calcutta, 4,000 out of 6,000 chickens of a private farm were found dead.
?Although these samples have not yet tested positive, we cannot take any chances. Culling will begin there tomorrow,? ARD minister Rahman said.
Culling will also take place at Uttar-Panchla village in Panchla block of Howrah district as several chickens have died there since last week.
Panic gripped Pathar Para village in Gosaba, South 24-Parganas, 90km from here, when villagers spotted a dead falcon in a field around noon.
Panchayat pradhan Meena Mridha said the bird had been sent to the Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Calcutta for tests.
The Government Railway Police seized five jute bags packed with country chickens from a platform at Bandel station in Hooghly last night. They informed ARD officials, who culled the birds and buried them near the station.
In East Midnapore, the district administration ordered culling in 67 villages, which fall within a 5km radius of Debra in West Midnapore, where the H5N1 virus was confirmed on Sunday.
Rahman said over 21 lakh chickens had been culled till yesterday. The target is 25 lakh. ?Over two lakh chickens were culled today. We shall complete the culling by tomorrow,? the minister said.
Rahman said the government would take action against 185 culling team members who returned from Birbhum?s Rampurhat I block yesterday, apparently citing fatigue after a week?s work.
?All culling team members have been asked to stay in their respective areas for at least 10 days. These people had taken adequate doses of Tamiflu. They need to be quarantined for at least 10 days,? the minister said.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080130/jsp/bengal/story_8841092.jsp

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HenryN · Jan 30, 2008

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

INTERVIEW-India's bird flu outbreak coming under control-UN
30 Jan 2008 13:47:47 GMT
Source: Reuters


<SCRIPT language=JavaScript src="/bin/js/article.js"></SCRIPT>
</SPAN><INPUT id=CurrentSize type=hidden value=13 name=CurrentSize> By Adhityani Arga
JAKARTA, Jan 30 (Reuters) - An outbreak of bird flu in poultry in India's West Bengal state is "coming under control", but authorities still need to break the chain of transmission of the H5N1 virus, the United Nations influenza coordinator said in an interview on Wednesday.
"I would say that it is coming under control," David Nabarro told Reuters, "And the final test of whether it's under control would be whether or not authorities are able to really dampen down the new outbreaks of H5N1 particularly in West Bengal."
Bird flu has spread to 13 of 19 districts in India's West Bengal in the fourth outbreak of the H5N1 strain since 2006, with samples of dead chickens testing positive in two new districts, officials said on Monday.
In neighbouring Bangladesh, the disease has spread to 29 of its 64 districts since March last year despite mass-culling of poultry.
"What the authorities need to try to avoid is the continous transmission of the H5N1 virus so you almost stop noticing the outbreaks," Nabarro said, sitting in his suite in a five-star hotel in the Indonesian capital Jakarta.
The public health expert is on a four-day visit in the Southeast Asian nation, where he meets ministers and experts to review Indonesia's efforts to stamp out disease.
Nabarro said a major problem is that most poultry in West Bengal and Bangladesh are raised in backyards and farmers have been reluctant to cull their birds in the fear of losing a vital source of income and nutrition.
"In both the Bangladesh and the West Bengal situation the key dilemma that government faces is on the one hand wanting to get the virus under control and to reduce infections," Nabarro said.
"On the other hand, to try not to increase poverty among already very poor rural communities."
"But I am really very pleased with the general approach that's been taken in both settings."
In West Bengal over 2 million birds have already been culled since the H5N1 virus hit the state earlier this month, and authorities are planning to ban rearing backyard poultry in infected districts for at least three months.
Nabarro praised Indonesia's progress in containing the spread of bird flu despite the recent spike in human cases with six deaths in January alone.
"If there had not been a strong response by the authorities, it is my belief that we would have much higher rates of human disease in this country."
"The levels of human infections are still mercifully quite low... but a lot more has to be done."
Experts fear the H5N1 strain could mutate into a form easily transmitted from person to person, leading to a pandemic that could kill millions.
There are no human infections have been reported in India and Bangladesh, while Indonesia leads the world's toll from the disease with 124 human cases of which 101 have been fatal.
(Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/JAK238023.htm

HenryN · Jan 30, 2008

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

<TABLE width="90%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD class=rel style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Bird Flu Update

As per the latest report received from the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory, Bhopal, samples collected from the Suri-I block of Birbhum district, Raghunathganj-II block of Murshidabad district and Chanditala-2 block of Hooghly district have tested positive for Avian Influenza virus on the basis of the rapid tests. Sample from North 24 Parganas is under process and there is no report as yet that it has tested positive.

A total of 630 Rapid Response Teams were engaged on 29.01.2008, which completed culling of 1.55 lakh birds taking the cumulative figure of culling so far to 23.23 lakh. Culling mainly remains in the areas which got affected later in the last few days.

A total mortality of 1,30,170 poultry birds has been reported from Birbhum, Dakshin Dinajpur, Murshidabad, Nadia, South 24 Parganas, Burdwan, Bankura, Hooghly, Malda, Coochbehar, Purulia, Howrah and North 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal. This number stood at 1,29,777 till yesterday.

It is emphasized that eating properly cooked poultry and poultry products is perfectly safe in areas not affected by virus in West Bengal and rest of the country since bird flu is restricted to certain parts of the districts affected in West Bengal.

MP(30.1.2008) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=35020

Diane Morin · Jan 30, 2008

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

Kolkata calls for foreign help in bird flu battle

Agence France-Presse
Kolkata, January 30, 2008
First Published: 20:51 IST(30/1/2008)
Last Updated: 21:25 IST(30/1/2008)

India's bird-flu hit state of West Bengal appealed to New Delhi to allow the United States and China to come to its aid in battling the disease, an official said on Wednesday.

The deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu has now been found in 13 of 19 districts in the eastern Indian state of 80 million people since the outbreak began two weeks ago and bird deaths in new areas have been reported in the last day.

"We need foreign help to stem the deadly virus, which is spreading at an alarming rate," said West Bengal animal resources minister Anisur Rahaman, who has also expressed fears the disease could soon show up in humans.

"I have urged the chief minister to have talks with the federal government so that we can approach the United States and China for help."

Both countries have already offered to assist the state, local reports have said.

"We have an experience that bird flu spreads very quickly so it needs to be tackled fast," said United States Ambassador to India David C Mulford, according to a report.

"It has to be nipped in the bud before it moves forward." It is India's third outbreak of bird flu, but by far its most serious. The United States has offered technical help to the surveillance teams as well as protection gear and other equipment, a report said.

State minister Rahaman said widespread culling, some two million chickens have been slaughtered so far out of a target of three million, had not yet stopped the disease spreading.

"Nearly 3,000 poultry died Tuesday in an organised poultry farm" in a district bordering neighbouring Bangladesh, said Rahaman. "Samples of dead poultry have been sent for testing."

House-to-house surveillance is underway in that district as well as two others close to state capital Kolkata, home to 13.5 million people.

Authorities are trying to prevent the virus reaching Kolkata by using checkpoints to stop the smuggling of infected birds.

Humans typically catch bird flu by coming into direct contact with infected poultry, but experts fear the H5N1 strain may mutate into a form easily transmissible between people.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/story...+flu:+/FONTWest+Bengal+calls+for+foreign+help

Diane Morin · Jan 30, 2008

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

Possible massive outbreak of bird flu in NE predicted

30 Jan 2008, 2132 hrs IST,PTI

SHILLONG: With the avian flu spreading fast in West Bengal, panic gripped Meghalaya on Wednesday following a prediction by researchers about a possible "massive outbreak" of the disease in the Northeast.

A "prediction map" prepared by research associate Dr Dibyendu Adhikari and Arun Chettri of the Department of Botany, North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), which was made public on Wednesday, claimed that some areas in Northeastern region were vulnerable to the H5N1 virus.

The map also highlighted areas in West Bengal, which has already been affected by the out break of the virus, and most districts of Bangladesh which had a "suitable environment for proliferation of the bird flu".

Though the map covers potential risk zones of bird flu in almost all northeastern states, including Assam, Tripura, Manipur and Mizoram, the hilly areas in Meghalaya, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh have been identified as lower-risk zone.

Adhikari and Chettri said the prediction map of the potential risk areas of bird flu in the Northeastern India was made through the technique of Ecological Niche Modeling (ENM).

ENM involves using artificial intelligence algorithm called Genetic Algorithm for Rule-Set Prediction (GARP) along with the Geograhic Information System (GIS) technology, they said.

They called for precautionary measures like proper monitoring of the areas visited by migratory birds in Assam to check spread of avian influenza in the region.

In earlier studies, the technique successfully predicted the prevalence of infectious diseases like ebola, chagas, human monkeypox, malaria and dengue in different parts of the world, Adhikari and Chettri said.

The researchers said they had used 28 environmental parameters for modeling the distribution of the avian influenza virus in northeastern India.

The predictions claimed that areas like Nalbari, Rangiya, Guwahati, Tezpur, Kamrup, Barpeta, Goalpara, Dhubri, Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Manas, Kaziranga, Udalguri, Karbi Anglong, Golaghat, Dhekiajuli, Rangapara, Nagaon and Diphu in Assam were likely to be affected by the flu virus.

"Further analysis shows that the predicted areas in Assam are mostly visited by migratory birds. Proper monitoring of the areas is needed to check spread of bird flu," they said.

Veterinary officials, who were bombarded by queries from the people after the report was made public, brushed aside the predictions and said there was no such threat as of now.

"It is mere assumption. We don't agree. The report is bound to create panic. We have taken necessary measures to ensure there is no outbreak of bird flu in the state," Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Director D Khonglah said.

"The veterinary department's map of the places visited by migratory birds contradict the one developed by the researchers," he said.

Meanwhile, the state has sent around 60 blood samples of chicken collected from different parts of the state for testing for bird flu virus to Bhopal.

"The report is likely to come in about four days," Khonglah said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...d_flu_in_NE_predicted/articleshow/2744263.cms

Extrapolation · Jan 30, 2008

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

Just a reminder that Kolkata as a "city" has a stable resident population on any given day of 13.5 Million people -

Diane Morin · Jan 30, 2008

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

Kolkata panic after death of 200 chickens at city farm

By OUR CORRESPONDENT

Kolkata, Jan. 30: While the state government on Wednesday claimed that the onslaught of bird flu is coming under control, there was panic at Maheshtala in Kolkata after the mysterious death of 200 chickens there. State animal husbandry minister, Anisur Rehman, however, did not confirm it.

"We are awaiting the report of the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory in Bhopal but since the Union government has permitted us to notify and start the culling, we began the process," Mr Rehman said. Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee will hold a video conference on Thursday with the DMs and sabhadhipatis of the 14 affected districts.

The state government has sanctioned Rs 12.50 crores to compensate the families affected. State finance minister, Asim Dasgupta met Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar and finance minister P. Chidambaram to hand over chief minister?s letter to chip in with financial assistance for the compensation package of the affected poultry owners.

Bird flu has spread to 14 out of 19 districts in the state in the fourth outbreak of the H5N1 strain since 2006, with samples of dead chickens testing positive in two new districts, officials said on Wednesday.

"At least 700 chickens have already been culled in North 24 Parganas after our tests suggested the presence of the virus in the area," Mr Rehman said, adding that the situation is a little worrying.

"But the menace is now under control and the overall situation is improving," he said.

A major problem is that most poultry in state is raised in backyards and farmers have been reluctant to cull their birds out of fear of losing a vital source of income and nutrition.

Over 25 lakhs birds have already been culled since the virus hit the state, he said, adding, "No human infections have been reported so far."

Meanwhile, West Bengal Poultry Welfare Association president, Tapas Bandopadhyay complained against the "atrocious activities" of a few municipal and police personnel.

http://www.asianage.com/presentatio...after-death-of-200-chickens-at-city-farm.aspx

Treyfish · Jan 30, 2008

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

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=429 align=justify border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ld>Five hundred chicken die in two UP poultry farms </TD></TR><TR><TD height=15></TD></TR><TR><TD class=kicker>Sant Kabirnagar, Jan 30: Five hundred chicken have died in two poultry farms in Chitrapar and Devpar villages of the district in the last five days with the administration attributing the deaths to cold in the region.

Chief veterinary officer of the district S K Bhagat said though the matter was not reported by the poultry farm owners, his department has reported it to the district Magistrate R P Singh the DM has directed the officials of the department to make an on the spot assessment of the situation, Bhagat said adding prima facie cold and diarrhoea appear to be the cause of the death.

Meanwhile, round-the-clock vigil was being maintained in the Bakhira bird sanctuary area which is in about 10 kms radius of the vicinity of the villages where the deaths have been reported, Bhagat added. Bird flu has ravaged 13 districts of West Bengal. :tiphat:

http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=421520&sid=REG
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HenryN · Jan 30, 2008

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

Commentary at

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/01300806/Calcutta_Panic.html

Treyfish · Jan 30, 2008

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

Avian Influenza scare
Migratory birds drop dead like nine pins
By Our Staff Reporter

A Vet officer holding up the carcass of a migratory bird
IMPHAL, Jan 30 : Even as a red alert has been sounded all over the country following the outbreak of bird flu in West Bengal on January 15, which has affected 13 of its 19 districts so far, caution has been sounded following the death of at least seven migratory birds, probably Gold Magpie, at Maharabi near Sekmai in Imphal West district during the last 48 hours.
Moreover four Bulbuls (Khoining) were also found dead during the same period.
This information was conveyed to The Sangai Express today evening by the villagers of Maharabi. The Sangai Express then passed on the information to the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department.
A team of media persons and a team from the VAH led by Dr K Gopal, the State Nodal Officer on Avian Influenza then rushed to the said place this evening.
Giving details, the vice president of Maharabi Youth Club, K Shyamchand said that the six migratory birds dropped dead from the trees in the village near human habitation yesterday.
The birds which usually come to the village at the time of this year annually could not grasp the tree branches securely, he said and added that they dropped from the trees and died.
As the villagers were not aware of the likely ramifications, six birds were consumed yesterday. Another bird died today, he said and added that this was what upped their ante.
Four Bulbuls also died during the last 48 hours he disclosed and added that while two died yesterday, another two dead birds were detected today.
The two birds found yesterday were fed to the dogs, he said and added that the other two found today have been disposed off.
The village will be thoroughly scouted tomorrow to see if there are more dead birds, said K Shyamchand.
The Veterinary team collected the sample of the dead bird found today and the same will be sent to the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory, Bhopal tomorrow.
Significantly, bird flu was confirmed in Manipur last year and the same was officially announced on July 25.
Following the confirmation of bird flu in West Bengal, awareness campaign has been launched all over the State by the Veterinary and Animal Husban- dry Department.
Despite the ban on import of fowls from outside the State, reports have come in that chicks are being brought in through NH-53. Police have however stated that they have not detected any smuggling in. :tiphat:

http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/News_pages/Local_page-01.htm

Treyfish · Jan 30, 2008

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

Bird flu becoming a political nightmare for Buddha

Sougata Mukhopadhyay / CNN-IBN

Published on Wed, Jan 30, 2008 at 23:10Budge Budge, West Bengal: It's been one "minority crisis" after another for the Buddhadeb government, starting with the goof-ups in the Rizwanur Rehman case, then throwing Taslima out of Kolkata.

Just ahead of the panchayat polls, the government has a reason to worry about the minority electorate ? the poor Muslims, who were involved in backyard poultry farming and have borne the brunt of chicken culling. They are ostensibly upset with the government.

"We see this as a ploy to sell American poultry products in our country, which will cost much more than our own products,? says a resident of Budge Budge, Sheikh Najes. ?We can't afford that. We will not let the government cull chickens in our village and we are ready to face the consequences."

The Buddhadeb government faces an uphill task as it struggles for new ideas to keep the minority vote-bank intact.

After the massive culling operations, the government apprehended a backlash and announced an added compensation of Rs 500 per affected family. Besides a new Rs 100 crores rehabilitation scheme, it is also requesting banks to waive or reschedule farmers' loans.

"We are considering only the miserable condition of the poor people and not in the light of Hindus or Muslims or minorities,? stated state minister for Animal Resources Development, Anisur Rehman, adding that the minority-majority question was ?not our main concern."

Clearly, the Bird flu menace has spread its wings beyond the domain of Bengal's poultry and the accompanying financial losses for farmers.

Despite the assurances of the government, the political fall-out and its impact on the vote-bank is what seems to be bothering the Left Front government more than anything else. With panchayat polls just a few months away, the Left Front government is stuck at a critical crossroad. :tiphat: http://www.ibnlive.com/news/bird-flu-becoming-a-political-nightmare-for-buddha/57760-3-1.html

Treyfish · Jan 30, 2008

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

Bird flu: State takes preventive steps

Special Correspondent

<TABLE width="100%" bgColor=#d0f0ff border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Tight monitoring at check-posts </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<HR color=lightblue noShade>Veterinary doctors to be posted at check-posts
Rapid action force set up
<HR color=lightblue noShade>

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Food and Civil Supplies Minister C. Divakaran, who is in charge of the Animal Husbandry Department, on Wednesday announced a series of preventive and precautionary measures against the possible spread of avian flu in the State.
The measures included tight monitoring and patrolling of 18 border check-posts through which 80 per cent of the State?s requirement of chicken and eggs was met. Veterinary doctors and paramedical staff in sufficient numbers would be posted at these check-posts and the necessary infrastructure installed.
A rapid action force has also been set up to respond instantly to any incident that might be reported from any part of the State.
Addressing a press conference soon after a high-level meeting of Animal Husbandry officials here, Mr. Divakaran asserted that the State was totally free from the scourge of avian flu.
But his department had nevertheless decided to take precautionary measures and be fully prepared to meet any eventuality. Constant monitoring by the department had ruled out the possibility of an outbreak in the State.
He said the check-posts would be under surveillance. The kits and uniforms for the RPF had been distributed. He said arrangements had been made at the check-posts to monitor cattle movement as well for possible affliction of anthrax, foot and mouth disease, etc.
He said a control room would operate in the Secretariat to respond to any reports.
The public have been advised to contact the control room in the case of emergency on the following two numbers: 0471 3256288 and 0471 2302283.
In reply to a question, he said monitoring of chicken and eggs would be done randomly, but in the case of cattle heads, it would be done individually.
Responding to reports from Nadapuram about large-scale death of chicken, the Minister said the death occurred due to ?ranikhet disease? (?kozhi vasanta?) as established by laboratory examination and was in no way connected to avian flu.
The incident occurred in a tribal colony and only 60 fowls had died, the Minister said.
Animal Husbandry secretary in-charge V.K. Vasudevan; Director Vijayakumar; Kerala Livestock Development Board managing director Anil Das; Kerala Poultry Development Corporation managing director Sunil Kumar; Veterinary Association president K.R. Anil Kumar; Veterinary Surgeons Service Association president Theodore John; and other officials attended the review meeting. The Minister said over and above his department?s exercise, a coordination committee with the Health Secretary as chairman and the Animal Husbandry secretary as convener, was also involved in monitoring the situation.
In reply to a question, he said a separate unit had been put into service to monitor migratory birds at the Thattekad sanctuary.

<WEB></WEB>

</RELLINK>Printer friendly page :tiphat:
http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/31/stories/2008013153300400.htm

Diane Morin · Jan 30, 2008

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

Culled birds exhumed, relief urged :banghead:

KOLKATA/SURI, Jan. 30: Villagers of Bajitpur, Parchandrahat and Chattaparulia in Mallarpur-I gram panchayat in Birbhum’s Mayureswar-I block, affected by avian flu, exhumed the culled poultry birds yesterday and gheraoed the local panchayat office with the birds demanding interim relief of Rs 500 for each family as announced by the state government.

The villagers brought the culled birds to prove that they are among the affected families. The culled birds were again buried in the trenches at the intervention of the police. Rampurhat SDPO said the district authorities today issued an order, saying the person should be arrested if he tries to dig the trenches where culled birds were buried. n SNS

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=1&theme=&usrsess=1&id=187994

Giuseppe · Jan 30, 2008

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

Bengal chickens land in UP
31 Jan 2008, 0203 hrs IST,Rajesh N Singh,TNN

LUCKNOW: In a shocking lapse on the part of authorities in both Railways and the West Bengal government, over 2,500 chickens were transported from the eastern state into UP on Monday, sending alarm bells ringing within Lucknow's administrative machinery. Fortuitously, the UP officials decided to err on the side of caution and culled the chickens without even testing them for flu on Wednesday.

On Monday night, UP home secretary Mahesh Kumar Gupta had shot off letters to DMs and police chiefs stating that more than 2,500 chicken booked from Bardhman, West Bengal, on Vibhuti Express were offloaded on January 26 at Varanasi. The consignment was then sent to Shahjahanpur by the person who had received the chicken in Varanasi, the letter said.

Copies of the letter were sent to the GM of North-Eastern Railway, divisional railway managers of Northern Railway, NE Railway and North-Central Railway informing them about the alarming news and a directive to ensure that no poultry product booked from West Bengal and adjoining states be unloaded in UP.

The person who offloaded the birds at Varanasi was located in Shahjahanpur after the home secretary's letters to officials. Soon, veterinary doctors from the animal husbandry department reached the spot and culled the chicken, said principal secretary animal husbandry R M Srivastava.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Bengal_chickens_land_in_UP/rssarticleshow/2744723.cms
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