Cullers: Safety Norms Ignored

 

# 1583

 

 

The newspaper is calling it a `major safety lapse', and a `potentially deadly blunder'.  

 

Thousands of cullers have apparently gone home without quarantine, and  in some cases, some may not have been given Tamiflu.   Even in the quarantine camps, workers come and go during the day, and supposedly just show up for morning and evening roll call.

 

This from The Times of India.

 

 

 

 

 

Safety norms ignored for culling teams

1 Feb 2008, 0228 hrs IST,TNN

 

KOLKATA: In a major safety lapse, the state government allowed thousands of culling team members to go home and mingle with their families and friends without putting them in quarantine — a mandatory step to ensure none of them has contracted the deadly bird flu virus.

 

The state has only now realized this potentially deadly blunder and is summoning the cullers back to base camps where they will be isolated and put through tests for 10 days. The chief minister personally got into the act and held video conferences with district magistrates and sabhadhipatis to ensure that culling teams are quarantined after finishing operations. Armed policemen could be deployed to watch these camps.

 

"We have instructed DMs not to allow any culling team member to go home without being quarantined. They should also be administered Tamiflu tablets during culling and the quarantine period," said health minister Surjya Kanta Misra, who was present at the CM’s video conference along with animal resources development minister Anisur Rahman.

 

But by now, these culling team members - from Nadia, Hooghly, Birbhum and Murshidabad - have put at risk their families, neighbours and whoever they came in contact with. Officials who went to Malda and West Midnapore were the only ones to be quarantined.

 

"Even during quarantine, it has been noticed that many cullers leave the camps for most of the day to meet friends or relatives and only come back for the morning and evening roll call," said D P Chatterjee, the Haringhata BDO. If even one of them has contracted the H5N1 virus, there is a great risk of the deadly flu spreading, say health officials in Nadia. Many of those quarantined reportedly went out to have food because they did not like the meals served at base camps.

 

In Birbhum, leaders of some teams complained that about 700 cullers were released after merely being administered Tamiflu. They were not even asked to observe any extra precautions. "We were only advised to go to a doctor in case of high fever," said a culling team leader. However, district ARD official Sankar Das Bhowmik insists it is unlikely that any infection spread as a result of these team members going home after culling. Some cullers even complained that they were not being provided protective aprons.

 

In Hooghly, there is fear among culling team members, many of whom are refusing to take Tamiflu, a mandatory precaution. CMOH Bhusan Chakraborty admitted that the administration had failed to create awareness among the cullers. This is hindering operations in the district.

Uttar Pradesh: Bird Flu Fears Spark Culling

 

# 1582

 

 

 

 

 

Uttar Pradesh is the fifth largest, and most populous state in India, with more than 186 million inhabitants.  If it were a sovereign country, its population would place it in 5th place, just after Indonesia, and just ahead of Brazil in most populous nations.  

 

1/6th of all Indians live in Uttar Pradesh.

 

Located in the Northern part of India, Uttar Pradesh is separated from West Bengal by the States of Bihar and Jharkhand. 

 

 

 

 

Uttar Pradesh buries 2000 chickens brought from bird flu-hit West Bengal

From our ANI Correspondent

Shahjahanpur (Uttar Pradesh), Jan 31: Authorities in Uttar Pradesh buried over 2000 chicken here following reports that the poultry were brought from bird flu-affected West Bengal.

 

 

Around 5000 chickens were brought by poultry farm owners in Shahjahanpur. Out of these 1,500 died under mysterious circumstances.

 

"I had bought 1500 chicken for Rs 15,000. A veterinarian said that the chicks are infected," said Chote Singh Yadav, a poultry farm owner.

The authorities have engaged people to cull the birds and stop any further smuggling of infected birds.

 

"Medicines and disinfectants have also been sprayed and sprinkled," said Gudu, a worker appointed by the administration to bury the chickens.

 

In the wake of bird flu outbreak, the authorities in West Bengal have ordered culling of chickens to contain the spread of the disease. Due to this small farmers are incurring huge losses, despite the compensation being provided to them.

 

Many claim that the compensation given to them is not adequate.

 

The 5000-crore organised poultry industry in West Bengal has been badly-hit. Since January 15, when the epidemic was officially declared, chicken sales and exports have dipped to an all-time low.

 

The WHO has called the outbreak the most serious in India.

Once More, With Feeling!

 

# 1581

 

 

At least three times in the past week we've heard that the bird flu crisis in West Bengal was `under control', and each time, within hours,  a new outbreak would make the news. 

 

A week ago, when the West Bengal officials first declared the `situation in control', only 9 districts were battling the virus.  Today that number is (take your pick) either 13 or 14 districts, with other states reporting dying birds.

 

 

‘No new cases, situation in control’

By OUR CORRESPONDENT

Kolkata, Jan. 24: With no fresh areas coming under the grip of bird flu, the state government on Thursday heaved a sigh of relief. Wary and worried about the impact of the avian influenza in the state’s poultry industry, the government authorities said with Bankura out of the deadly grip of the H5N1 virus and two other districts likely to be immuned soon, it will take four to five days to curb the virus menace in the state.

 

"The outbreak is under control. There is no report of the disease spreading to new areas," state animal husbandry minister Anisur Rehman said after meeting chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya.

 

 

 

Yesterday the news reports were stating that the virus was `spreading at an alarming rate'. . .Today, the situation is, once again, "under control".

 

Who knows? 

 

If the Indian government keeps repeating this mantra, one day they may be right. 

 

 

 

Bird flu in West Bengal "under control", officials say

 Jan 31st, 2008

 

KOLKATA (Reuters) - Authorities in West Bengal fighting a serious outbreak of bird flu said the situation was under control on Thursday, echoing the sentiments of the United Nations influenza coordinator.

 

To underline their confidence, health officials urged residents of Kolkata, the crowded state capital, to eat chicken if they so fancied.

 

"We have allowed a dozen farms to sell poultry products in the city after close examination -- their products are safe for eating," said Deb Dwaipayan Chattopadhyay, a senior health official. "Do not panic at all."

 

Anisur Rahaman, the state's animal resources minister, said the outbreak was under control, and that he was now getting fewer reports of suspicious bird deaths.

 

Bird flu has spread to 13 of West Bengal's 19 districts since the outbreak was confirmed more than two weeks ago.

 

Laboratory results have confirmed that the deadly H5N1 strain is responsible for the outbreak in at least two of the districts; officials think tests will confirm the same strain in the other districts too.

New Suspect Case In Indonesia

 

# 1580

 

 

A new suspected case of human bird flu has been admitted to a Jakarta hospital, again from the hard hit Tangerang district.   This time it is a 29 year-old, whose condition is listed as `critical'. 

 

Tests  have not come back on this patient, so this is only a `suspected case' of H5N1.

 

This is in Addison to the 32-year-old woman in the same hospital, already diagnosed with H5N1.

 

Both patients are on a ventilator.  Historically, this has been an ominous sign in bird flu infections. 

 

A Hat Tip to Dutchy on Flutrackers for posting this translation.

 

 

 

One Patient was suspected Bird Flu entered RS Persabahatan

on Thursday, January 31 2008 |
The Interaktif TIME, Jakarta

One patient was expected by bird flu again was treated in the Persahabatan Hospital, Rawamangun, Jakarta East. The patient have the initials Ny.S, 29 years, from Street Jati, Kota Baru, Tangerang.

 

According to the Head of RS Persahabatan Any Reputrawati public relations the patient entered struck 01,00 WIB, on Thursday (31-1).

 

The patient already a week suffered the sign of flu and the fever.The condition for the patient at this time was critical, said Any.

 

The patient was treated in special intensive space bird flu.
The "inflammation" of the "lungs has been wide, he said."

 

And at this time to help breathing to be installed the ventilator.

 

However, results of the test positive or not bird flu did not yet go out.

 

Apart from Ny.S, at this time, RS Persahabatan was still treating one positive patient bird flu had the initials the Woman R, 32 years, from Bekasi.

 

She was reconciled from RS Harum, Kalimalang, Jakarta East. His condition at this time was critical because of the inflammation of the lungs that spread. She was reconciled from since January 26.

He was treated in special isolation space, said Any.

The team of the doctor installed the ventilator to help breathing Ny .R.

 

Manipur Testing Dead Migratory Birds

 

# 1579

 

 

 

 

 

With bird flu erupting in West Bengal, Indian authorities are taking a closer look at incidents that might not have attracted much attention a month or two ago.  In this case, it is 7 migratory birds found dead in Sekmai, a small village in Imphal West, Manipur.

 

Blood samples are being sent off for testing. 

 

Manipur is a state in the North Eastern Portion of India, and borders Myanmar, also the site of outbreaks of H5N1 in the past.

 

 

 

 

 

Bird flu alert in Manipur
January 31, 2008 13:03 IST

 

The Manipur government has sounded an alert in the state in view of the outbreak of the deadly avian influenza in West Bengal.

 

Official sources said in Imphal on Thursday that seven migratory birds were reported dead at Sekmai in Imphal West.

 

However, so far no deaths had been reported at Loktak lake where large numbers of migratory birds come during the winter.

 

Meanwhile, the state veterinary team on Thursday sent the blood samples to the High Security Animal Diseases Laboratory, Bhopal, officials said.

 

A ban had also been imposed on the entry of any poultry products from outside the state and officials were conducting regular checks at the Manipur-Myanmar border areas.

Hong Kong Aviary Closed Due To Bird Flu Fears

 

# 1578

 

 

Hong Kong, the site of the first deadly outbreak of H5N1 in humans back in 1997, is well aware of the dangers of bird flu.  When a migratory bird is found with the virus, they take immediate action.

 

Ocean Park, a popular theme park in Hong Kong, boasts an aviary with over 900 birds.  The aviary will be closed to the public for the next 21 days while the rest of the birds are monitored.  They are calling this a strictly precautionary action.

 

This from The Straits Times.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Suspected bird flu shuts HK park's aviaries

HONG KONG - A HONG KONG theme park is to shut its aviaries for three weeks following the discovery of a wild heron suspected of dying from bird flu.

 

The bird was found on Monday in a remote area of Ocean Park, on the south coast of Hong Kong Island.

 

'As a precautionary measure, the walk-in aviaries in Ocean Park will be temporarily closed to visitors for 21 days starting tomorrow,' said a spokesperson with Hong Kong's Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.

 

Ocean Park, a conservation-focused theme park with pandas, dolphins, birds and rollercoasters, attracted nearly 5 million visitors last year, proving more popular than the struggling Hong Kong Disneyland.

 

 

Spokeswoman Christine Lau said the rest of the park would operate normally and the aviary closures were a precautionary measure, with the 900 birds in its collection not having shown any symptoms of bird flu.

 

 

Epidemiologists fear the H5N1 strain, which remains mainly an animal disease but has infected humans, could mutate to a form that spreads easily among people.

 

China detected an outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of bird flu in poultry in Tibet earlier this week. -- REUTERS

Pakistan Investigating Large Bird Die Off

 

# 1577

 

 

 

 

 

While India is nervously trying to keep bird flu out of Kolkata (Calcutta),  there are fears Pakistan may already have bird flu in their largest city, and one of the most populous cities in the world; Karachi.  

 

Tests are pending, but bird flu is suspected. 

 

Meanwhile birds are reportedly being improperly disposed of, there are stories of die offs on other farms in the area, and worries that some workers at the farm were suffering from `flu'.  (As this is flu season, this may not be indicative of anything ominous.

 

 

Karachi is located in the southernmost part of Pakistan, on the Arabian Sea, far removed from the region of Pakistan (NWFP) struck with human infections in November of 2007. 

 

 

 

KARACHI: Outbreak of bird flu feared in Gadap

By Mukhtar Alam

 

KARACHI, Jan 30: Following the large-scale deaths of birds at a local farm, poultry and health officials have suspected that avian influenza (bird flu) has crept into Karachi.

 

A senior poultry officer of the Sindh government said that he had been informed about an extraordinary number of mortalities of birds in a farm located on the right side of the Super Highway near the Toll Plaza, lending credence to reports that the much-dreaded bird flu had hit Karachi.

 

Dr Aslam Jalali, the provincial surveillance officer on avian influenza, said on Wednesday night that a surveillance team which, according to him, had already been working in the area, had collected samples from 10 birds of a poultry farm on Tuesday for confirmation of H5N1 bird flu virus and a laboratory report pertaining to the samples was due to be released from Islamabad on Thursday evening.

 

Though he maintained that the spread of the disease was confined to only one farm, the relevant quarters claimed that the flu and mortality problem existed in some nearby farms as well, including those maintained by the Rangers.

 

It was further learnt that some workers of the farm in question were reportedly also suffering from flu. But a senior official in the Sindh health department said that he had no knowledge about any avian influenza case in humans in recent days.

 

The city government’s focal person on avian influenza, Dr Aslam Pervez, said that he had been told by some officials that samples had been sent to the national reference laboratory on bird flu and any on-the-ground precautionary measures against the spread of bird flu virus in humans could be taken only after getting confirmation from Islamabad.

 

Sources in the poultry industry said on Wednesday that birds started dying at a farm in Gadap Town about four days ago. Earlier, the number of deaths was low and it was thought that the deaths were due to cold weather. But the situation became alarming when the birds’ mortalities started numbering in the thousands per day.

 

It was further said that the dead birds were thrown away in landfills and open pits without observing the precautionary scientific process, which increased the chances of the spread of infections, whether it was bird flu or something else, through wild birds and other animals.

 

A livestock department official said that if lab tests confirmed that it was indeed avian influenza, then the farms involved would be asked through the CDGK poultry officer to ensure immediate culling of birds and their scientific disposal, while moves would be taken for further inspection of poultry farms in the vicinity.

 

One young man, identifying himself as the owner of the farm in question, said that he was a medical student and knew the bird flu phenomenon and that was why he had been keeping the poultry officers of the Sindh government informed about the disease and deaths.

Seventh Dorset Swan Confirmed With Bird Flu

 

# 1576

 

A seventh dead swan at the Swannery in Abbotsbury has tested positive for the H5N1 virus.  This wasn't unexpected. 

 

Also today, Defra announced that that an infected migratory bird was the likely cause of the local infections.

 

 

 

 

 

Seventh swan confirmed with bird flu

By Miriam Phillips

 

A SEVENTH dead swan has been confirmed to have caught the deadly strain of H5N1 bird flu at the Abbotsbury Swannery.

 

The news of the latest bird infected comes as Defra released a report saying that an infected migratory bird was the most likely cause of the deadly H5N1 bird flu outbreak discovered earlier this month.

 

An epidemiology report which looks into the spread of the disease at Abbotsbury said that the strain of the virus is similar to those found in Europe in the latter part of last year.

 

While the report from the Defra said it is not possible to conclusively identify the source of infection, the most likely hypothesis is that it came from an infected migratory wild bird.

 

The report said that there is no evidence of widespread infection in the wild bird population in the area and no evidence of disease in domestic birds.

 

Defra are still urging poultry keepers in the area to remain vigilant and report any signs of disease immediately.

 

There remains no evidence of disease in domestic birds.

West Bengal Wants Foreign Help With Bird Flu

 

# 1575

 

In sharp contrast to the guardedly optimistic assessment provided by Dr. David Nabarro in my last blog, the West Bengal government is pleading for help from the United States and China in combating their bird flu crisis, claiming that it is `spreading at an alarming rate'.

 

 

 

 

 

Indian state calls for foreign help in bird flu battle

 

 

KOLKATA, India (AFP) - India's bird-flu hit state of West Bengal appealed to New Delhi to allow the United States and China to come to its aid in battling the disease, an official said on Wednesday.

The deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu has now been found in 13 of 19 districts in the eastern Indian state of 80 million people since the outbreak began two weeks ago and bird deaths in new areas have been reported in the last day.

 

"We need foreign help to stem the deadly virus, which is spreading at an alarming rate," said West Bengal animal resources minister Anisur Rahaman, who has also expressed fears the disease could soon show up in humans.

 

"I have urged the chief minister to have talks with the federal government so that we can approach the United States and China for help."

 

Both countries have already offered to assist the state, local reports have said.

 

"We have an experience that bird flu spreads very quickly so it needs to be tackled fast," said United States Ambassador to India David C. Mulford, according to a report in the Indian Express Tuesday.

 

"It has to be nipped in the bud before it moves forward."

(Cont.)

Nabarro : India Outbreak `Coming Under Control"

 

# 1574

 

 

 

It's a `forward looking statement', and modified by certain caveats, but David Nabarro, the UN's influenza coordinator says he is hopeful the Indian government can soon quell the outbreak in West Bengal.

 

 

 

INTERVIEW-India's bird flu outbreak coming under control-UN

30 Jan 2008 13:47:47 GMT

Source: Reuters

By Adhityani Arga

 

JAKARTA, Jan 30 (Reuters) - An outbreak of bird flu in poultry in India's West Bengal state is "coming under control", but authorities still need to break the chain of transmission of the H5N1 virus, the United Nations influenza coordinator said in an interview on Wednesday.

 

"I would say that it is coming under control," David Nabarro told Reuters, "And the final test of whether it's under control would be whether or not authorities are able to really dampen down the new outbreaks of H5N1 particularly in West Bengal."

 

Bird flu has spread to 13 of 19 districts in India's West Bengal in the fourth outbreak of the H5N1 strain since 2006, with samples of dead chickens testing positive in two new districts, officials said on Monday.

 

In neighbouring Bangladesh, the disease has spread to 29 of its 64 districts since March last year despite mass-culling of poultry.

 

"What the authorities need to try to avoid is the continous transmission of the H5N1 virus so you almost stop noticing the outbreaks," Nabarro said, sitting in his suite in a five-star hotel in the Indonesian capital Jakarta.

          (Cont.)

 

 

So the crisis in West Bengal is `coming under control'.

 

All they have to do now is stop new outbreaks from occuring.

 

Always a catch, isn't there?

Indonesia Announces New `Three year Plan'

 

# 1573

 

 

 

A year ago this week, Indonesia announced a sweeping plan to rid most of that nation of backyard poultry.  Despite many public displays of culling in February of 2007, this edict lost momentum, and many people continue to raise birds of all kinds in their homes and back yards across Indonesia.

 

While the Indonesian central government can issue proclamations, their enforcement often leaves a lot to be desired.

 

Today, in the wake of much negative press over their 100th bird flu fatality, Indonesia is announcing a new `3 year plan'.  One can only hope it is more successful than the last one.

 

The details from AFP via Asia Pacific News.

 

 

 

Indonesia launches bird flu plan as death toll tops 100
Posted: 30 January 2008 2033 hrs

JAKARTA - Indonesia on Wednesday launched a new three-year plan to fight bird flu, just days after the confirmed death toll topped 100 in the country hardest hit by the H5N1 virus.

 

The plan will be funded by a 20-million-dollar European Union (EU) grant channelled through the World Health Organisation (WHO), the health ministry's disease control director Nyoman Kandun told reporters here.

 

Indonesia accounts for just under half of the 224 human bird flu deaths worldwide, according to WHO figures. The 100th victim died on Sunday, and the 101st fatality was recorded on Tuesday.

 

Kandun said Indonesia would need to meet with EU and WHO officials on a "routine basis" in order for the plan to work.

 

WHO's Indonesia representative Subhash Salunke said the strategy would focus on preventing new infections, better monitoring of the spread of the virus and continued scientific research.

 

"Prevention of new cases remains an urgent priority, while improving survival (rate) of those infected is another major priority," he said.

The prevention campaign would include ramped up efforts to improve hygiene in the country's wet markets and public awareness initiatives.

(Cont.)

Vietnam: Fear Impedes Bird Flu Control

 

# 1572

 

 

Vietnam has testing centers set up where farmers can take sick or dead birds to be tested for the H5N1 virus.  When birds are dropped off, officials ask for a  name and address so that if the tests come back positive, cullers can be sent in to eradicate the problem.

 

This is one of those programs that sounds like it ought to work. 

 

Unfortunately, many people are afraid to give their name or address, for fear of losing their entire flock.

 

This from the Vietnam News Agency.

 

 

Jittery farmers impede rural bird flu containment efforts

(30-01-2008)

HA NOI — Health officials are being hampered in their efforts to contain the bird-flu outbreak because farmers are afraid to report suspected H5N1 infections, the National Veterinary Diagnosis Centre said yesterday.

 

"More and more farmers are coming to our centre to test their dead poultry but most of them are afraid when we ask for their address," said the centre’s director Nguyen Van Cam at the weekly bird-flu meeting organised by the Steering Committee for Avian Influenza Prevention and Control.

 

Cam cited the recent example of a man who brought five or six chickens and ducks to the centre for testing on Monday.

 

"When we asked him to show us his identity card he said he did not have it with him. When we suggested he show us his driving licence as an alternative, he said he had to get it from his motorbike and never returned," said Cam.

 

The centre’s director said it was accepted practice to ask farmers for identification. Even if they refused, the poultry was still tested Cam said.

 

Even when names and addresses were given, Cam said they were often false.

 

"Most of them give us wrong addresses. When the test results show the poultry is positive for the H5N1 virus, we contact local animal health departments immediately in order for them to take action but when they go to the address of the farmer involved it is often fictitious," said Cam, adding that farmers were afraid of the financial costs if their poultry was diagnosed as positive for bird flu.

 

Other vets said the Government’s compensation policy, which pays farmers just VND12,000 to VND15,000 (US$1) for each slaughtered bird, was inadequate.

 

Viet Nam Animal Health Department deputy director Hoang Van Nam said tests had revealed that bird-flu extended beyond the Government-acknowledged provinces of Tuyen Quang, Thai Nguyen, Quang Binh and Tra Vinh. — VNS

Media: `Kolkata Under Siege'

 

# 1571

 

Perhaps its a bit of headline hyperbole, but if so, it probably isn't by much.   Bird flu has shown up in the areas surrounding Kolkata (Calcutta), and officials are desperate to keep it out of this city of 15 million people.

 

News paper reports recount tales of disorganized and ineffective culling operations in West Bengal, of corruption, and even of cullers walking off the job.  

 

Government officials are downplaying those reports.

 

Culling has now progressed to the 14th district of the state, a pretty good indication that the outbreak is not yet contained.

 

This from the Deccan Herald.

 

 

 

Bird flu: Kolkata under siege

Kolkata, IANS:

Bird flu encircled this eastern India metropolis of over 15 million people on Wednesday as West Bengal government officials started culling poultry in the 14th district of the state.

 

Officials began culling poultry in North 24 Parganas district after chicken deaths and preliminary tests conducted by the state government suggested the presence of the virus that causes the deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza.

 

"We are awaiting the report of the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL) in Bhopal but since the union government has permitted us to notify and start the culling, we began the process after our tests suggested the presence of the virus at Baduria in North 24 Parganas," West Bengal Animal Husbandry Minister Anisur Rahman said on Wednesday.

 

He, however, told IANS there were no fresh reports of chicken deaths except in a farm at Baduria, barely 50 km from Kolkata.

 

If the tests at the Bhopal laboratory confirm the bird flu, 14 of the 19 districts of the state would be under the grip of the deadly virus though 2.2 million birds have already been culled since the outbreak was reported Jan 15.

 

The 14 districts include North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas and Howrah, which encircle Kolkata. Hooghly, another affected district, is also very close.

(cont.)

Indonesia: Case Count Confusion.

 

# 1570

 

According to the WHO, and nearly all of the media accounts I've seen, the case count in Indonesia stands at 124 infected, and 101 deaths. 

 

Three patients have died this week, and a 31-year-old woman that tested positive for the virus remains hospitalized.

 

This morning we get two news articles, one telling us that the remaining bird flu patient's condition is deteriorating, and one from Xinhua News that gives the case count as 125 infected, and suggests a new patient may be in the mix. 

 

 

Right now, I suspect both papers are talking about the same patient, and that the case count remains at 124.  

 

 

Both are in reported to be in the same hospital, with the same doctor, and are listed as being within 1 year in age with each other.  Age discrepancies in the reporting out of Indonesia are almost the rule, rather than the exception.  

 

 

But we will have to wait and see to know for sure.

 

 

Two snippets from articles this morning.  First, this from IOL News out of Cape Town, South Africa.

 

 

Separately, a woman from East Jakarta was in critical condition after being diagnosed earlier this week as infected with the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu.

 

The 31-year old woman, was "in critical condition, suffering from serious pneumonia", Mukhtar Ikhsan, who heads the bird flu team of doctors at the Persahabatan hospital here, told AFP.

 

She was one of 23 people in Indonesia who have been confirmed as having been infected with the bird flu virus but are still alive.

 

The woman was taken to the Jakarta hospital on Saturday with a fever, cough and headache. She fell ill on January 18 but only sought treatment at a local hospital on January 22 and was later referred to the Persahabatan hospital, one of the two bird flu referral hospitals in Jakarta.

 

The bird flu information centre has said the patient lived in a neighbourhood with backyard farms and a wet market selling poultry.

 

 

And from Xinhua News we get a slightly confusing account.  One that lists this patient as being 32-years-old, and the 125th human case, not the 124th.   

 

This comes on the heels of a confusing report from the Jakarta Post (see Crofsblog) on the 101st death.   

 

 

 

 

Indonesian woman tested positive with bird flu

www.chinaview.cn 2008-01-30 13:49:00

    JAKARTA, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- A 32-year-old woman has been tested positive of having bird flu and is now in critical condition at a Jakarta hospital, local press said Wednesday.

 

    The woman was admitted to the Persahabatan Hospital on Jan. 26 and laboratory tests confirmed later she had the H5N1 virus, the Metro TV reported.

 

    "She is very critical now with pneumonia and respiratory problems," Dr. Mukhtar Ikhsan with the hospital told the television.

 

    The patient is put on ventilator to assist her breathing. She was the country's 125th confirmed bird flu case, which already killed 101 people since the disease began ravaging in 2003.

 

    Experts have blamed widespread bird flu attacks across the huge archipelago on million of backyard chicken commonly found in rural families.

 

 

Regardless of the case count, this unfortunate woman's prospects appear grim.

Thailand: Bird Flu Suspected In Northeastern Province Poultry

Latest outbreak in red

# 1569

Thailand, which was caught flat-footed back in 2004-2005 when the H5N1 virus first began to affect their nation, has adopted a far more proactive stance in recent years.

After enduring 25 human cases, and 17 deaths over two years, they've managed to go since mid-2006 without a reported human infection, and they've dealt swiftly with sporadic outbreaks in poultry.

Over the past couple of weeks Thailand has seen three provinces report bird deaths, and the H5N1 virus has been confirmed in at least two of them. Swift culling was ordered, even before testing was complete.

Now farmers are reporting chicken deaths in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, and culling is being done while tests are preformed.

This from Xinhua News.

Thai northeastern province on high alert of bird flu

www.chinaview.cn 2008-01-30 16:45:48

BANGKOK, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Health officials from Thailand's northeastern Nakhon Ratchasima Province Wednesday are on high alert for the bird flu virus after dozens of chickens were reported to have died mysteriously at a local farm.

Orders were issued to chicken farmers in all 3,712 villages in the northeastern province to carry out tests at their farms to locate the virus and to spray disinfectants, according to the report of the Bangkok Post website.

Livestock department in Nakhon Ratchasima said 21 chickens were said to have died on January 28 at a farm in Non Thai district.

Samples of faeces taken from the farm where the chicken died are being examined by health experts to confirm whether the chickens died of the H5N1 virus.

Chickens within a five-kilometer radius of the farm have also been culled as a preventative measure.

Since early 2008, bird flu broke out in Thailand's northern provinces of Nakhon Sawan and Phichit, thousands of chickens have been culled. But no human infection has been found so far.

Bird flu outbreaks have plagued Thailand during the past years. The most recent big outbreak was reported in March 2007 in northeastern province of Mukdahan bordering Laos.

The latest wave of bird flu outbreaks in Thailand since 2004 has seen 25 people infected with the deadly H5N1 virus, 17 died.

Indonesia Reports It's 101st Death From Bird Flu

 

# 1568

 

 

This is the third death reported this week in Indonesia from the bird flu virus, coming on the heels of a 23-year-old woman and a 9-year old boy who both died on Sunday.   

 

A 31-year old woman that tested positive earlier this week remains hospitalized.  There's been no word on her condition that I've seen.

 

 

This report from Newschannel Asia.

 

 

 

 

Indonesia reports 101st bird flu death

 

Posted: 30 January 2008 0904 hrs

 

JAKARTA : A 32-year-old Indonesian man has died of bird flu, the health ministry said Wednesday, bringing the death toll to 101 in the nation worst hit by the deadly virus.

 

The man, who died Tuesday, was from the Jakarta satellite district of Tangerang, the ministry's bird flu information centre said in a statement.

He was the seventh confirmed death from bird flu this year.

 

The victim was said to have first shown symptoms similar to bird flu on January 17, but he was only taken to a village clinic on January 21 before being referred to a hospital in the district town of Tangerang on January 24.

 

The man was then moved to a bird flu referral hospital in Jakarta on January 26, suffering from fever, breathing difficulties, low blood cell count and pneumonia, the health ministry's bird flu centre has said.

 

The centre said it was not known whether the victim had contact with infected birds but that several of his neighbours were keeping pigeons.

Humans are typically infected with bird flu by coming into direct contact with infected poultry, but experts fear the H5N1 virus may mutate into a form easily transmissible between humans, sparking a deadly global pandemic.

 

The concern stems from past influenza pandemics. A pandemic in 1918, just after the end of World War I, killed 20 million people worldwide.
The virus is now endemic in birds across nearly all of Indonesia's 33 provinces. - AFP/ch

West Bengal: Hundreds Under Flu Watch

 

# 1567

 

This is the kind of story that, quite frankly, could mean absolutely nothing at all.  

 

In the winter months, tens of millions of people come down with fevers and IlI's (Influenza-like Illnesses).   It isn't a surprise that many people in and around the culling areas of West Bengal should display such symptoms. 

 

But it is worrisome.

 

Without testing, it is nearly impossible to tell Bird Flu from ordinary flu, particularly during the early stages.  Often bird flu is initially mis-diagnosed as Dengue, Chikungunya, Typhoid, or CA-pneumonia. 

 

It takes sophisticated, time consuming, and expensive lab tests to confirm H5N1.

 

The laboratories in India are reportedly overwhelmed with backlogs of samples.  Some of the districts that are culling birds have yet to get back `official' tests showing their birds are dying from H5N1.  While officials say they are testing human samples, it isn't clear how many they are testing, and how long it will take to get the results.

 

So when a newspaper runs a story highlighting more than 600 `flu suspects', we take notice.  The Indian government is apparently taking all of this seriously enough to send a team from their NICD (National Institute of Communicable Diseases) to the scene.

 

The odds favor most of these cases to being something other than bird flu. Perhaps all of them.  But this is how a bird flu outbreak might  look, particularly in the early stages, and so it must be investigated and hopefully ruled out.

 

For now, we watch and wait.   And hope that authorities are simply operating with an abundance of caution.

 

 

A Hat tip to Crof over at Crofsblog for alerting me to this story.

 

 

 

602 people under flu watch in Malda

OUR CORRESPONDENT

 

Malda, Jan. 29: A door-to-door survey by district health workers in bird flu-hit areas of Malda has found 602 people with symptoms like fever, running nose and cough.

 

“We have detected 109 such people within a 3km radius of the affected areas in Chanchol and Harishchandrapur and 493 people within a radius of 3-10km. All of them complained of fever, running nose and cough,” said Radharaman Banik, the chief medical officer of health (CMOH) of Malda.

 

Outbreak of avian flu among poultry birds has so far been confirmed in Chanchol I and Harishchandrapur I blocks. Now, similar outbreaks are also suspected in Kaliachak I and Kaliachak III.

 

It is not yet known if H5N1 or the bird flu virus has infected some of these 602 people, but Banik said all of them were being kept under observation.

 

“We are opening a special ward in the Chanchol subdivisional hospital in case we need to admit any of them and we will also send their blood samples to the Bhopal laboratory,” said the CMOH.

 

A mystery fever is also stalking Malda town. D. Sarkar, the superintendent of the railway hospital here, said: “We have been getting patients with high fever and chest pains and we are not being able to detect the source of infection. We have sent quite a few patients to B.R. Singh Hospital in Sealdah.”

 

However, no one has been confirmed with pneumonia, the known symptom of bird flu.

 

A team from the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) in Delhi and experts from the All-India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Calcutta, arrived here today to study the situation.

 

The team includes NICD joint-director Shah Hossain and G. Sengupta, a microbiologist from the institute in Calcutta. The experts met senior district officials and, according to sources, gave a clean chit to the administration for the manner in which the situation is being handled.

 

The animal resources development (ARD) department, on the other hand, is getting ready to send culling teams to Kaliachak I and Kaliachak III blocks after birds started dying there in large numbers.

 

“The central team from the NICD has visited the areas and from the manner in which poultry birds are dying there, the experts are certain that it is a bird flu outbreak,” said Arunima Dey, subdivisional officer, headquarters.

 

All the nine block development officers in the Malda Sadar subdivision, including those of Kaliachak I and III, have been told to hold meeting with the panchayat pradhans and create awareness among villagers.

 

“We are also sending blood samples to Bhopal,” Dey said.

 

The subdivisional officer added that the Kaliachak blocks were adjacent to Bangladesh and the virus could have spread from the other side of the border.

West Bengal: Bird Flu Continues To Spread

 

# 1566

 

 

Despite governmental assurances earlier today that the outbreaks in West Bengal were nearly contained, new outbreaks are still being reported. 

 

This from The Times Of India.

 

 

 

 

Bird flu spreads to urban areas
30 Jan 2008, 0215 hrs IST,TNN

 

KOLKATA: State officials may be patting their backs for completing culling in bird flu affected districts but the dreaded H5N1 virus has struck back by hitting urban areas.

 

Bird flu was confirmed in new sites on Tuesday evening — Kalyani municipality and Kanchrapara gram panchayat in Nadia, a village in Birbhum's Suri block-I and Howrah's Panchla and Sankrail. Both districts had announced that culling was nearly complete and the new outbreak has come as a shock.

 

In Kolkata, the health department had a harrowing time after a member of the culling team in Budge Budge, South 24-Parganas, was admitted to MR Bangur hospital with suspected bird flu. Blood samples of Dipankar Dey were sent for tests to three labs. "All came back negative. He is suffering from an infection of the upper respiratory tract," said Sanchita Bakshi, director health services.

 

Culling has been ordered in Baduria, North 24-Parganas, after half the stock of poultry died at a farm. The government decided not to wait for the test reports from Bhopal, said animal resources development minister Anisur Rahman. He refuted corruption charges pressed against some culling officials but admitted that the state had lodged a police complaint against staff who left midway through the culling operation in Birbhum without informing their superiors.

 

In Midnapore town, there was panic after seven goats dropped dead. The owner claimed he had buried the animals but couldn't show the burial place raising fear that the infected meat was sold.

 

In Nadia, samples sent from Harijanpara, a densely-populated area in Kalyani town, tested positive. "We were nearly through with the culling operation but the virus has spread to Kalyani. We will take similar action there. Culling will be carried out in parts of Chakda block as well," said Nadia DM Omkar Singh Meena.

 

The bird flu situation came up for discussion at the state cabinet meeting on Tuesday where chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee expressed concern about the source of the virus that affected 13 districts of the state.

 

Birbhum DM T K Som confirmed that bird flu had been confirmed in Suri's Alumda village. "This area is within five km of Suri town, so we have decided to cull chickens in the municipality area also. The operation will start on Wednesday," Som said. Fresh samples have been sent from Malda's Kaliachak-III block.

 

Home secretary Prasad Ranjan Ray said the US Consulate had offered help to tackle the outbreak. "The decision rests with the Centre. A high alert has been issued in the areas along the India-Bangladesh border," Ray said.

Bangladesh Mulls Issuing A `Red Alert'

 

# 1565

 

 

 

Admittedly a `Red Alert' sounds ominous, but we are left to wonder exactly what a `Red Alert' actually means and how it differs from what the are doing now.  The author calls it a `drastic measure'.   

 

This article via The Independent Bangladesh and the Daily Commercial Times.

 

A Hat tip to Carol@SC on the WIKI for this link.

 

 

 

Red alert to face bird flu likely

Tuesday, 29 January 2008

Shekhar Tripaty

 

The government has been carrying out all out efforts to resist the bird flu throughout the country.

 

A number of steps have already been taken to face the probable menace. Sources said monitoring cell has been opened at the office of the Deputy Commissioner in each district.

 

Special task force has been formed. BDR patrol in the border areas has been geared up, importation of all kinds of poultry through India and Myanmmar borders has been prohibited, propaganda to create awareness among the people is being made and the masses are being urged not to be panicked.

 

Besides, the government is mulling to declare red alert as a drastic measure to face this catastrophe if necessary. According to the official figure the country has 1.50 lakh poultry farms and a panic of bird flu has been spread all over, although, infection of bird flu in hundred farms has so far been informed.

 

About 3.50 lakh cocks in 134 farms have already been killed and as a result the poultry farmers who invested a huge amount are being frustrated. If it is not controlled now, it would be spread all over the country in an epidemic form.

 

And at the same time it would not only cause a huge economic loss but also thousands of people involved in this industry would be jobless. Ministry of Livestock sources said the price of cock, duck and pigeon has been reduced in the market.

WHO Update On Indonesia

 

# 1564

 

 

The World Health Organization published update # 35 from Indonesia today, covering the last human bird flu cases.

 

 

 

Avian influenza – situation in Indonesia – update 35

 

29 January 2008

The Ministry of Health in Indonesia has confirmed an additional four cases of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. Two of these cases were fatal. There is no evidence of an epidemiological link between the cases.

 

The first case, a 31-year-old female from East Jakarta, Jakarta Province, developed symptoms on 18 January, was hospitalized on 22 January and is currently in hospital. The investigation indicated that she visited a wet market where live poultry are sold three days prior to symptom onset.

 

The second case, a 9-year-old male from Depok Municipality, West Java, developed symptoms on 16 January, was hospitalized on 23 January and died on 27 January. Investigations into the source of his infection indicate that the case lived next door to a wet market where live poultry are sold.

 

The third case, a 32-year-old male from Tangerang Municipality, Banten Province, developed symptoms on 17 January, was hospitalized on 24 January and is currently in hospital. Investigations into the source of his infection are ongoing.

 

The fourth case, a 23-year-old female from East Jakarta, Jakarta Province, developed symptoms on 19 January, was hospitalized on 24 January and died on 27 January. Investigations into the source of her infection are ongoing.

 

Of the 124 cases confirmed to date in Indonesia, 100 have been fatal.

Saudi's Report New Outbreak In Poultry

 

# 1563

 

Last November and December, the Saudi's were battling a major outbreak of bird flu among poultry in their country.  Some reports had them culling more than 3 million birds over a matter of a couple of weeks.  

 

For the past five or six weeks, however, Saudi Arabia has slipped from the headlines.

 

Today we learn of a new outbreak, and the culling of 158,000 birds. This report from Reuters.

 

 

 

Birds culled in Saudi as new bird flu case found

Tue 29 Jan 2008, 14:39 GMT

 

RIYADH, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Saudi authorities have culled nearly 160,000 birds after a new case of the deadly strain of bird flu was found on a farm outside Riyadh, state media said on Tuesday.

 

The Saudi Press Agency said 158,000 birds were exterminated at al-Kharj, 150 km (94 miles) south of the capital, after the H5N1 strain of bird flu was found there.

 

Authorities killed thousands of birds in al-Kharj and other sites near Riyadh in November, as inspection teams combed farms and markets around the city of about 4 million people.

Tamil Nadu: Birds Died Of Starvation

 

# 1562

 

 

Birds die every day, and for a great many reasons.  Most of the time, not much thought is given to it.  That is,  unless there is a raging bird flu outbreak going on somewhere in your country. 

 

Last Thursday there were reports of poultry dying in Tamil Nadu, in the South East quadrant of India, far from the West Bengal region.   Given the events to their north, this understandably raised concerns.

 

According to government laboratory tests, these birds did not die from bird flu, but rather, from starvation.

 

This from the Times of India.

 

 

 

 

Poultry deaths due to starvation: Tamil Nadu Govt

29 Jan 2008, 1700 hrs IST,PTI

 

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday said some poultry deaths reported from Devedanampatti and Bodinayakanoor in Theni district were caused due to "starvation" and there was not a single case of bird flu in the state.

 

"After detailed tests and postmortem, it was found that the birds had died due to starvation and non-supply of poultry feed," an official release said here on Monday.

 

Cases have been registered against the concerned farms for not informing the authorities about the bird deaths and not properly disposing of the carcasses.

 

"It is reiterated that not a single instance of bird flu has so far been detected in Tamil Nadu and, therefore, it is safe to eat poultry products," it added.

India : Corruption and Culling

 

# 1561

 

 

You could almost understand why poor villagers, deprived of their poultry and told they can't begin raising new birds for at least 3 months, would try to `negotiate'  with the culling teams over the number of birds they'd lost. 

 

In a country where some families still live on less than a dollar a day, every rupee is precious. And make no mistake, even with government compensation, these villagers will be hit hard by this cull.

 

Less understandable is what  appears to be a systematic looting of the compensation fund by village politicians.   From the sound of this article, in just over a week's time, they've managed to turn this crisis into a tidy profit center.

 

(Not that this isn't done in some fashion, every day, somewhere in the world)

 

As a result of the pressure brought on them to falsify culling certificates, some cullers are refusing to work.  Other's have walked off the job saying they were overworked and `too tired' to continue.

 

Despite optimistic dispatches from the West Bengal government, it appears that the culling operation is hitting some snags.

 

This from the BBC.

 

 

 

Bird flu cull hit by 'corruption'

By Subir Bhaumik
BBC News, Calcutta

Several culling teams have stopped working in districts of West Bengal hit by bird flu, complaining of corruption.

 

They say that they are being put under pressure by local politicians to exaggerate the number of birds killed so that more compensation is paid.

 

Some of the extra money is pocketed by local politicians, they say.

 

Nearly 200 culling team members have withdrawn from working in Rampurhat and Baroncha in protest against "pressure for false certificates".

 

'Too tired'

 

"If we kill five birds, we are asked to certify the killing of 50 birds so that the villagers get more compensation, part of which is pocketed by the village politicians," alleged Pintu Ghosh, member of a culling team at Rampurhat.

 

The decision by some culling team members in Rampurhat and Baroncha in Murshidbad district is significant, because these are areas worst hit by bird flu, where culling targets have been constantly upped as the epidemic spreads.

 

Rural poultry farmers have been badly affected

 

The officials all work for West Bengal's health and animal husbandry departments.

 

In the district of Nadia, other culling teams have stopped work because they say they are "too tired".

 

"We are too few and our task is huge. We have been working relentlessly for the last week," said Chandan Das, a culling team member.

 

Desperate district administrators have threatened to arrest those members of culling teams who pull out of work.

 

On Monday, officials said that the epidemic has spread to 13 of West Bengal's 19 districts.

Tibet Reporting Outbreak In Poultry

 

# 1560

 

Tibet has seen the H5N1 bird flu before.  Last March they had an outbreak in their capital city Lhasa, and poultry was culled and markets were closed for a time.

 

Today we get another report of H5N1 infected birds in Tibet.

 

 

First, this terse announcement from Xinhua News.

 

 

China confirms new bird flu case in Tibet

www.chinaview.cn 2008-01-29 19:01:38
 

    BEIJING, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) announced Tuesday it has confirmed a new bird flu case in southwestern Tibet Autonomous Region.

 

    The China National Bird Flu Reference Laboratory confirmed Tuesday the once suspected bird flu case hitting Gongga County on Jan. 25 was caused by the highly pathogenic H5N1 subtype avian influenza virus, the MOA said.

 

 

While the Reuters report, which followed minutes later, adds some details.

 

This from The Straits Times.

 

Jan 29, 2008

China reports bird flu outbreak in poultry in Tibet

 

BEIJING - CHINA has detected an outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of bird flu in poultry in Tibet, a government website said on Tuesday.

 

A total of 1,000 poultry have died of the disease in Gonggan county since Jan 25, while another 13,080 have been culled, the Ministry of Agriculture said on its website http: www.agri.gov.cn.

 

'The National Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory confirmed the virus as a subtype of the H5N1 strain,' it said.

Updating Thailand

 

# 1559

 

 

For some reason, this article doesn't mention their most recent suspected outbreak in Thailand's Northeast province, Kalasin, reported 2 days ago. 

 

It focuses instead on the outbreaks in Phichit, and Nakhon Sawan provinces.   According to authorities, these outbreaks are being successfully contained.

 

This from MCOT English News.

 

 

 

 

H5N1 bird flu detected in two Thai provinces

 

CHIANG MAI, Jan 29 (TNA) – Thailand's Livestock Development Department (LDD) confirmed that the avian influenza (bird flu) virus detected in Nakhon Sawan and Phichit provinces is the deadly H5N1 strain.

Department director-general Sakchai Sriboonsue said the lab test results confirmed that the bird flu virus found in chicken carcass samples from Nakhon Sawan and Phichit was identified as the H5N1 strain.

 

However, the disease has been contained with the culling of more than 54,000 chickens near the locations where the disease was detected. Over 2,500 poultry farmers have been banned from moving their animals and disinfectant was sprayed at more than 700 locations.

 

He said the situation is not as severe as the bird flu outbreak in 2004.

 

Meanwhile the Disease Control Department deputy director general said that since 2003 there have been 357 bird flu patients in 14 countries, of which 219 died of the potentially fatal disease.

 

In Thailand, there were 25 bird flu patients, of whom 17 died, he said, but no new human cases have been reported for 17 months.

 

The department has 31 people in Nakhon Sawan and Phichit under surveillance but none are sick or demonstrate bird flu symptoms.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

He said the Public Health Ministry is well-prepared for a possible outbreak. It has stocked 2.4 million pills of the antiviral drug "Oseltamivir" and has distributed supplies to hospitals across the country. (TNA)-E004

Branswell On The Tamiflu Story

 

# 1558

 

 

Helen Branswell - just about everybody's favorite flu reporter -  has quickly put together an excellent overview of the Tamiflu resistance story carried earlier today by the newswires.  

 

Her version, as usual, has details that few other reporters could glean.  This is just a snippet.  Follow the link for the whole article.

 

 

 

 

Rise in flu drug resistance worries experts

Jan 28, 2008 05:51 PM

Helen Branswell
The Canadian Press

 

Influenza experts admitted today that they have been startled by the discovery this season of an unexpectedly high number of human flu viruses that appear to be naturally resistant to Tamiflu, the drug that countries around the world are stockpiling for use in the next flu pandemic.

 

The viruses have been isolated from people infected with influenza A viruses of the H1N1 subtype in a number of European countries.

 

And Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg has reported finding one such virus, in a child who is believed to have been infected with influenza in Sudan before travelling to Canada.

 

The World Health Organization is convening a virtual meeting of experts tomorrow to try to get a handle on how far afield the resistant virus has been found, how common it is and what the findings signify.

 

"I think this is a very concerning change in influenza virus resistance patterns," Dr. Frederick Hayden, a leading antiviral expert and a member of the WHO's Global Influenza Program, said from Geneva.

 

"This is not only interesting, it's unusual and would not have necessarily been predicted by the necessary information. So it's certainly something we're taking seriously and trying to gather additional information (on)."

 

(read the rest of the story . . . )

Kashmir Testing Dead Migratory Birds

 

# 1557

 

 

Nestled between Tibet to the North and East, and Pakistan to the west, Kashmir sits at the very top of India, and control is divided between India, Pakistan, and China (via Tibet).

 

Kashmir is more than 1000 kilometers from West Bengal, where the current outbreak of bird flu is raging. It does border Pakistan, which has had it's own bird flu woes in recent months.

 

Officials are testing two migratory birds that were among a half dozen found dead due to a `mysterious disease'.   While birds die from many causes, bird flu is on everyone's mind right now.  

 

 

 

 

Bird flu scare: Migratory birds found dead in Kashmir

Srinagar, India, Jan 29, IRNA

Two migratory birds found dead due to a 'mysterious disease' at a nature reserve in southern Kashmir have been sent for bird flu tests, Kashmir's Department for Animal Husbandry said Monday.

 

Official sources however said half a dozen birds have been found dead due to 'mysterious disease' so far.

 

The latest case comes after restrictions were imposed on the movement of poultry or other captive birds from eastern Indian states where outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza has been reported from several areas.

 

Jammu and Kashmir government has sent samples of the migratory birds, found dead in a wetland near border with Pakistan in Jammu region, to Animal Disease Lab in Bhopal for bird flu tests, an official spokesman said. The spokesman added that the development was "not unexpected" but there was no evidence to suggest the disease had spread to the wider wild bird population or domestic birds here.

 

Around this time of the year hundreds of thousands of migratory birds visit the Kashmir Valley's wetlands. Experts fear they could carry the killer virus to the state.

 

"The H5N1 avian influenza virus could be carried by vectors like migratory birds, all kinds of poultry birds, poultry feed, eggs etc," a veterinarian said adding that it can also be air borne.

 

He said a strict vigil is being maintained at all the wetlands including Hokarsar, Aanchar, Dal, Haigam etc.

 

World's first case of the virulent strain, which has killed more than 200 people worldwide since 2003, was in a dead swan found in a Scottish fishing village in Britain in 2006.

Some Tamiflu Resistant Flu Strains Found

# 1556

 

 

About 2 years ago, the medical community was shocked to find that an old standby antiviral, amantadine, had lost much of its effectiveness against the H3N2 virus.  In 2003, roughly 1.9% of viruses tested showed resistance, in 2004 that jumped to 9%, and by 2005 a full 91% were resistant.

 

Overuse of the drug (it was rumored to have even been used in chicken feed in Asia to ward off bird flu) rendered it useless.  A shame because Amantadine (and rimantadin, also compromised) was not only cheap, it was plentiful.

 

The CDC, in January of 2006, warned doctors to no longer prescribe it for seasonal influenza.

 

Tamiflu has, up until now, shown little signs of losing sensitivity for seasonal flu viruses.  There have been a few cases in Egypt and Vietnam where the H5N1 virus has proven resistant, but for the most part, seasonal flu still responded to the treatment.

 

Now, a new study indicates that for the first time, researchers are seeing a few cases of Tamiflu resistance in seasonal flu.   Not a lot, but some.

 

This from Reuters.

 

 

Tuesday January 29, 07:09 AM

Some ordinary flu strains resist Tamiflu in study

 

STOCKHOLM/ZURICH (Reuters) - Some seasonal influenza viruses are resistant to Roche Holding AG's Tamiflu, a study showed, but Roche said no doubts had been raised about the drug's power to combat any deadly bird flu pandemic.

 

Of 148 samples of influenza A virus isolated from 10 European countries during November and December, 19 showed signs of resistance to Tamiflu, the European Centre for Disease Control said on Monday, citing a preliminary survey.

 

Of 16 samples from Norway, 12 tested positive for resistance against Tamiflu, which is also known by the generic name oseltamivir, Stockholm-based ECDC said.

 

"Given the initial indication of a high level of resistance to oseltamivir in the A H1N1 viruses circulating in Norway, late last week ... the Norwegian authorities notified their EU partners and the World Health Organization (WHO) of this situation," the ECDC said.

(Cont. )

 

 

 

 

Roche points out that this is an extremely small sampling, and that this does not indicate any loss of effectiveness against the H5N1 strain.

Cry, The Beleaguered Country

 

 

# 1555

 

An editorial by Poonam I Kaushish of the INFA (India News and Feature Alliance), printed today in Central Chronicle says that bird flu is emblematic of a much larger problem in India; the failure of the government to deal with an increasing number of social problems.

 

Not being a resident of India, I can't judge how accurate this assessment is.  Nor do I know the political leanings (or do I care) of the author.

 

This is, however, an illuminating look at some of the problems India is facing in this first decade of the 21st century, including bird flu. It makes fascinating reading.  

 

The author, after providing a litany of India's problems asks, "How long can this go on?"

 

 

 

I'll only print the opening paragraphs.   Follow the link for the entire editorial.

 

 

 

 

How do I know it's bird flu? 

 

Anger and anguish. Despair and desperation. Little did one know that India would celebrate its 58th Republic Day riding the crest of these emotions. Forget that India is fast earning the ignominious title of being the world's rape capital, that killing is the rhetoric of the times, what to speak of the frighteningly ever-widening gap between the filthy rich of Brand India and the depraved garib of Asli Bharat. Standing testimony to a callous, heartless and selfish country.

 

Epitomised by the worst outbreak of bird flu, the third since 2006. This time it has enveloped West Bengal and spread to neighbouring Bihar, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Maharashtra and UP. Even down south Kerala has sounded an alert. "It is horrible," confessed the hapless Bengal Animal Resources Minister. Is this enough? Does it condone and justify the State Government's delayed action, bad planning and mismanagement?

 

Think. From 15 December when it surfaced in Margram village, in Birbhum district, till date the State Government is still grappling with the enormity of the crisis and is clueless as to how to proceed. There is no evidence of civic authorities and public health officials attempting cleansing operations on a war-footing. Its culling record of birds is dismal --only four lakhs out of 20 lakhs. To top it all, villagers continue to feast on the dead chickens, their children play with the infected ones and many carry on selling them as it's a question of their livelihood. Characterised by "chickens die of various diseases, how do I know it's bird flu?"

 

The end result? Equipment and necessary tools sent by the Union government to the State to help set up isolation wards, simply gather dust. No one visited the village till 16 January, a month since its outbreak. And those who did had no clue what to do as they were not bird flu experts. A majority of the "health surveyors" were school dropouts with no medical training or experience. They had no testing equipment, not even a thermometer! Exposing the tragic fallacy of India. Spotlighting once again our cavalier and churlish attitude and approach to a crisis. Not just a crisis of character, but of crass casualness, which has become the touchstone of our present-day culture.

 

Besides, it also demonstrates that the real filth is more administrative and political. The point is not that just a few countries have banned Indian poultry and that airlines are no longer serving chicken but that it highlights the nation's inability to manage a crisis, dictated by a ki farak painda hai attitude. Many of the CPM leaders were busy attending the Party Conference in Kolkata, rather than overseeing culling operations in their districts.

(Cont.)