H5N1 Confirmed in Nadia and Burdwan West Bengal
Recombinomics Commentary 14:44
January 19, 2008
The H5N1 virus was found in dead birds in Burdwan and Nadia, taking to five the number of infected districts in West Bengal.
The virus was also spreading to new areas within already infected districts.
The above comments suggest that virtually all reports of excessive bird deaths in West Bengal will be H5N1positive (see satellite map). In Nadia, initial government reports suggested the bird deaths were due to New Castle disease. However, there is a vaccine for New Castle Disease, and the birds were still dying. Initial rapid tests were also negative, but such tests have a high false negative rate. The outbreaks in Nadia were numerous and located along the Bangladesh border, where H5N1 had been confirmed on the Bangladesh side.
Media reports also describe and influx of migratory birds, as well as dead resident birds, which will complicate containment efforts.
Burdwan is adjacent to Calcutta, where an H5N1 alert has been issued and dead poultry has been reported in southwestern suburbs in South 24 Parhanas, which will almost certainly also be H5N1 positive.
Dead crows and hawks have also been reported in Calcutta, which provide additional evidence for widespread infections throughout West Bengal.
Media Links
Recombinomics Presentations
Recombinomics Publications
Recombinomics Paper at Nature Precedings