H5N1 Confirmed in West Bengal Again
Recombinomics Commentary 21:21
March 9, 2008
"Laboratory tests confirmed bird flu on Friday night in two villages of Murshidabad district," Subir Bhadra, a senior official in the district bordering Bangladesh, which is also battling avian flu
The above comments describe the confirmation of H5N1 in West Bangal, India. H5N1 in eastern India is not a surprise. After the extensive culling program, India reports indicated H5N1 was no longer present, but Bangladesh reported recurring infections leading to spread to new districts and an increase in culling activity that was 10 fold higher in the last month than the prior the rate for the previous 12 months.
Both countries reported dead wild birds near H5N1 positive poultry. Bangladesh confirmed H5N1 in the wild birds, indicating limiting H5N1 to regions in the country, and regions across the border would be difficult.
Additional reports of H5N1 in India are expected.
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