Commentary
West
Bengal Seals Malda Border With Bangladesh
Recombinomics Commentary
14:01
December 18, 2008
While there has been no recent outbreak in Bangladesh, India's impoverished neighbour suffered a severe bird flu epidemic starting in March 2007. Millions of birds were culled, costing the poultry industry hundreds of millions of dollars.
The above comments describe the sealing of the border between West Bengal and Bangladesh in the Malda area, which is unlikely to slow the spread of H5N1 in West Bengal. The same approach was tried in early 2008, but the subsequent West Bengal outbreak was the largest reported to date for India, and the reported spread in Bangladesh also accelerated in early 2008.
However, the comments on the lack of recent Bangladesh H5N1 outbreaks are in error. After a lull over the summer, Bangladesh filed an OIE report on a September outbreak in Noagaon, which is just across the border from the Malda outbreak (see updated map). Similarly, Bangladesh has just filed another OIE report which described another outbreak in Rangpur in northern Bangladesh which began on November 29, 2008, as well as an outbreak near Dhaka, which began on December 10, 2008. In addition to the OIE reports, farms culled in association with these outbreaks are reported on the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock website, which includes two farms in northern Bangladesh and four farms north of Dhaka (see expanded map).
The sealing of the border is unlikely to significantly reduce the spread of H5N1 in West Bengal. Unnatural deaths in Ratua Block I strongly suggest H5N1 has already spread to the border with Bihar, which is on high alert. Moreover, the hundreds of dead crows associated with the Englishbazar outbreaks suggest further localized spread is likely in West Bengal as well as Bangladesh.
Similarly, villagers are resisting the cull and hiding birds. Dead birds are being eaten by villagers and dogs, raising concerns of mammalian infections.
Thus, more spread is likely in West Bengal because H5N1 is widespread, and further spread by wild birds is virtually inevitable.
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