# 1010
The test results were expected several days ago, but so far officials in India aren't saying exactly what they've found. What we know is there have been multiple accounts of poultry and other farm animal deaths, and that neighboring Pakistan, Myanmar, and Bangladesh have all reported bird flu.
This from Promed on July 17th.
In the previous week [also], serum samples collected from various places were sent to the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory, Bhopal for detection of avian influenza. The samples were collected from places in the state where there were reports of deaths of chickens and other farm animals that could have been caused by avian virus, the source said.
The 1st sample was sent on 11 Jul 2007, while the 2nd sample was sent Monday [16 Jul 2007], and the results of both are yet to be received by the state authorities.
Today, without releasing specifics of the testing, it appears the government of India is gearing up for bird flu.
All-alert on bird flu scare in Manipur
By IE
Wednesday July 25, 02:20 AM
A rapid response team from the Union Health Ministry held an emergency meeting in Imphal tonight with the Manipur Chief Secretary and senior officials of the state health, veterinary and police departments, to work out precautions in view of a "strong indication" that bird flu has been detected in the state.
The alert was sounded following the receipt of a report from the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory in Bhopal where samples were sent from the 132 chicken that died - of 144 - at Chingmeirong farm early this month.
When contacted by The Indian Express tonight, HSADL Joint Director S C Dubey confirmed that he had sent the report to the Agriculture Ministry. He, however, added: "I can neither confirm nor deny (whether bird flu has been confirmed)."
Health Ministry officials here said they were awaiting further tests before the formal announcement. They said the outbreak could be of a "freak" nature as other chicken in the farm were found to be not infected.
But the Government isn't taking any chances given reports of the H5N1 bird flu virus in neighbouring Myanmar and Bangladesh in March and May this year.
So the Regional Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) Hospital in Imphal has already set up a special cell to handle any emergency. Two Central officials, A B Negi, joint commissioner in the Agriculture Ministry and an official from the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, have been camping in Imphal since July 15.
This could be the third report of avian flu in the country and the first since April last year. The first outbreak was reported in Maharashtra last year in a small area running contiguously with Gujarat. The second one was also reported in Maharashtra.
Teams in Imphal have expanded the surveillance area.
