# 2596
The H5N1 virus, once it becomes entrenched in a region, has historically been very difficult to eradicate.
Vietnam, the poster-child for aggressive bird flu containment policies, continues to fight an ongoing battle against the virus more than six years after it first erupted.
Exactly why the virus tends to return to an area isn't known.
Is it re-introduced by migratory birds, or by illicit poultry trade? Or does the virus hide in indigenous asymptomatic birds in the area? Or are there perhaps other, non-avian, reservoirs out there giving the virus a safe `off-season' habitat?
Unfortunately there are a great many things that we don't know about influenza viruses in general, and the H5N1 virus in particular.
In the article below, a lakh refers to 100,000. So 500,000 birds have been culled in Assam state thus far. One hundred and fifty villages have reported outbreaks.
Even as officials were declaring the culling operation over, with only `mopping up' to do, new reports of bird deaths were coming in.
New culling zones are being established.
This from Zeenews.
Bird flu spreads to new places in Assam
Guwahati, Dec 26: Bird flu has spread to new areas in Assam where culling of poultry has been going on since November 27.
Over five lakh chicken and ducks have been culled in the state. Sources in the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department said cases of fresh bird flu attack were reported at Manahkuchi of Hajo and Chayani Barduar block in Kamrup (Rural) district, where the disease was first detected.
Other fresh areas to be hit by the virus are Tihu- Barama of Baksa district, Chachaligaon Burachowk village in Nagaon district, Rangamati, Aurpakmoniari Tiniali in Kamrup (Metro) district and Doloigaon Uzanpara in Bongaigaon district, the sources said.
Culling operations were initiated in the three-km radius area of the new bird flu-hit notified centres, while it continued in the previously notified areas.
With seven new locations notified, so far 19 epicentres were officially stated to be affected by avian flu in seven districts of Assam.
Nearly 150 villages have been declared bird flu-hit, for which 1,720 rapid response teams were deployed.
Almost two lakh eggs and 14,000 kg of bird feed have been destroyed since the beginning of culling.
Culling, mopping and disinfection operations were completed in nine centres of Kharghuli and Khanapara in Guwahati, Dibrugarh town, Rajabazar, Sarpara, Patgaon, Kathla, Katajhar and Bejerajalah.
Residents of Nalibari village in Chirang district resisted culling operations but veterinary officials were confident of convincing them to allow the anti-bird flu operation.
Compensation worth Rs 1.35 crore had so far been paid to the poultry owners, the sources said.
The affected districts are Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup (Rural), Nalbari, Barpeta, Chirang, Dibrugarh and Bongaigaon.
Bureau Report
