Commentary
H5N1
Confirmed In Malda West Bengal
Recombinomics Commentary
14:44
December 15, 2008
The confirmation of H5N1 in Malda is not a surprise. Over 5000 chickens and ducks had died suddenly in te past few days and the infections had spread to multiple villages (see satellite map). Moreover, Malda is on the border of Bengladesh and two outbreaks hade been confirmed in northern Bangladesh. In addition, multiple outbreaks were confirmed near Dhaka as well as throughout Assam.
However, this is the first time that confirmed H5N1 has been dramatically spreading in Bangladesh and two districts in India. Last season by the tie H5N1 was confirmed in Tripura, activity in West Bengal and Bangladesh was significantly reduced.
The confirmation in West Bengal is also early in the season. Temperatures in the area are still in the 80’s. Last season most of they spread was in the cooler months of January and February.
Thus, the confirmation of the H5N1 explosion of cases in Malda is cause for concern, as are the symptomatic patients in Barpeta, Rampur, and Chirang in Assam.
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