New H5N1 Outbreaks in West Bengal India
Recombinomics Commentary 10:14
March 27, 2008
Jalpaiguri became the third district to be declared bird flu-hit for the second time after Malda and Murshidabad, with death of 112 chicken reported from its Sadar sub-division, official sources said on Thursday.
The deaths occurred among backyard poultry in Boalmari under Jalpaiguri Sadar sub-division, Banamali Roy of Jalpaiguri Zilla Parishad said.
Over a week ago, avian flu was reported from English Bazar in Malda and Raghunathganj and Jiaganj areas in Murshidabad district.
Avian flu deaths among poultry had been reported earlier from Falakata area in Jalpaiguri district.
The above comments provide additional evidence for widespread H5N1 in West Bengal. New reports of H5N1 in poultry are not unexpected. Testing in the earlier outbreaks was minimal in many areas, as was cooperation from villagers. In addition to the excessive poultry deaths, there were deaths of wild birds in proximity to H5N1 confirmed cases.
H5N1 has been widespread in neighboring Bangladesh and H5N1 has been confirmed in wild birds there.
Moreover, in some locations, such as southern Russia, early migration of birds to the north has been reported. Although India has never reported an H5N1 positive wild bird, the linkage of migration paths in India to regions in China, Russia, and Mongolia where H5N1 has been reported previously in long range migratory birds for the past several years leaves little doubt that H5N1 has migrated into India.
Thus, additional reports of H5N1 in poultry in India are expected.
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