H5N1 Spread Throughout West Bengal
Recombinomics Commentary 17:18
January 20, 2008
Reports of avian deaths have been reported from far-flung areas in Darjeeling and Cooch Behar triggering panic.
Bird flu in Saltora block of Bankura district has been confirmed by the HSADL
The above comments strongly suggest that H5N1 is present throughout West Bengal, India (see satellite map). The Saltora block is on the northwest corner of Burkana, adjacent to Jharkhand, India suggesting H5N1 is spreading into regions of India to the west of West Bengal.
Similarly, the reports of poultry deaths in Darjeeling and Cooch Behar are at the north end of West Bengal, bordering Nepal, China, Bhutan, Assam, and Meghalaya as well as Bihar in India.
Testing of dead poultry is trailing dead poultry reports, and the number of tests per region is minimal.
The widespread reports of poultry deaths coupled with confirmed H5N1 in Bangladesh suggest migratory birds are spreading H5N1 over a wide region of northwestern India and more H5N1 outbreaks are expected.
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