Suspect H5N1 in Suburban Calcutta
Recombinomics Commentary 23:19
January 18, 2008
Bird flu might be now at Kolkata's doorstep. After the outbreak in Birbhum, Murshidabad and South Dinajpur districts, deaths of more than about 400 poultry birds were reported at Mankundu in Sarisa in the outskirts of the city.
It is learnt that the dying chickens were showing symptoms of the deadly bird flu in a private poultry farm and several other houses at Sarisa under the Diamond Harbour II block since Wednesday.
The above comments describe suspect H5N1 in suburban Calcutta (see satellite map). Media reports indicate birds have been dying daily since December 21. Similar reports have been received for Birbhum, where H5N1 has been confirmed and extensive culler started this week.
Like Birbhum, wild birds have also been dying in southern Calcutta and the dead poultry is southwest of the center of Calcutta. Also like Burbham, villagers have been eating the dead poultry, raising concerns of H5N1 ransmission to humans.
Samples have been sent to High Security Animal Disease Laboratory in Bhopal and comments on rapid test results were conspicuously absent. Culling may begin shortly.
These results may have contributed to the Calcutta alert, and the distribution of poultry deaths suggests H5N1 is widespread in West Bengal.
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