Increasing Bird Deaths in North 24 Parganas West Bengal
Recombinomics Commentary 16:56
January 22, 2008
the eighth district of the state North 24 Parganas reported a large number of poultry deaths, government sources said.
The bird flu scare is looming large over North 24 Parganas district too with reports of chickens deaths pouring in from three areas bordering flu-affected Nadia district.
The above comments suggest North 24 Parganas may be the eighth H5N1 confirmed district in West Bengal. Poultry deaths have been reported since last week, but the above comments suggest the number of dead birds is increasing, and at locations adjacent to Nadia, where H5N1 has been confirmed. Moreover, the northern portion of North 24 Parganas is just across the border from Jessore, where H5Nq has been confirmed in Bangladesh. Recent media reports suggest the H5N1 spread in Bangladesh is more extensive than has been reported.
Although some samples have been tested for H5N1, the number may be low based on official reports of samples received in recent days. Thus, the negative status of North 24 Parganas, like many other districts and blocks in West Bengal, may be negative simply because of minimal testing.
More extensive testing of dead poultry in West Bengal would be useful.
Media Links
Recombinomics Presentations
Recombinomics Publications
Recombinomics Paper at Nature Precedings