Commentary
H5N1
Spread To Third Malda Block In West Bengal
Recombinomics Commentary
21:39
December 19, 2008
they have lost all the chickens
The above comments strongly suggest H5N1 has spread to a third block in Malda, Gajole (see zoomed map). The large number of birds and the proximity of Gajole to Englishbazar strongly suggest the H5N1 spread is outpacing the cullers and threatens to lead to H5N1 infections in new regions.
Gajole shares a border with South Dinajpur, while Englshbazar shares a border with Bangladesh, and Ratua-I shares a border with Bihar. The rapid spread to the three Malda blocks threatens the adjacent regions, as well as more distant regions. In Englishbazar hundreds of crows died, signaling H5N1 spread to wild birds.
Similarly, H5N1 was confirmed in dead crows in Guwahati, Assam, threatening spread to Meghalaya, while many species of wild birds have died in Nagaland, raising concern of more spread, especially when the temperature drops and more birds migrate south (see updated map).
Therefore, additional spread is expected.
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