Suspect H5N1 Spreads to Bihar and Jharkhand India
Recombinomics Commentary 16:59
January 23, 2008
Meanwhile, in Bihar and Jharkhand are reportedly getting into the grip of H5N1 virus where poultry farmers reported fresh cases of poultry deaths.
State authorities have started collecting blood samples from Idgaon village of Jharkhand that reported the deaths of the birds.
The Bihar Government has ordered culling of chicken in six panchayat areas in Katihar district.
"We have received reports about a suspected case of bird flu at Mohammedpur in Malda district, hardly 5 km from Katihar.
The above comments describe suspect H5N1 cases in Bihar and Jharkhand, which are to the west of confirmed outbreaks in West Bengal (see satellite map). Although culling efforts in Kitihar were said to be precautionary, the above comments suggest that the culling is in response to dead poultry, which is H5N1 confirmed, but the information has not been released.
Information on the public government site on samples received for testing has vanished. Earlier there were "79" on Saturday, then "22" on Sunday, then "a number of samples" on Monday, then no data on Tuesday. The earlier reports indicated a very small number of samples were being received, which would have accounted for confirmation delays.
The excessive poultry deaths in districts where H5N1 has not been confirmed suggests that H5N1 is present, bit the confirmation has not been reported. This practice in West Bengal now appears to be applicable to Bihar and Jharkhand also.
The above data supports additional spread of H5N1 to the west of West Bengal.
Expanded testing and release of test results would be useful.
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