# 4264
My thanks to Carol@SC on the Flu Wiki for posting this updated status report on the culling operations ongoing in West Bengal.
As you may recall, on Friday we learned that some of the poultry deaths in Murshidabad, West Bengal had been confirmed as stemming from the H5N1 virus.
Over the past couple of weeks more than 1,000 chickens and ducks had reportedly died.
The following comes for the Government of India’s Press Information Bureau.
Status Report on Avian Influenza outbreak in West Bengal
(16.01.2010)
• Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries (DADF), GOI has notified Avian Influenza outbreak in Hazrabati and Nagar villages [block Khargram], district Murshidabad on 14th January, 2010.
• A three member Central Rapid Response Team of MOHFW has been deputed to assist the state health authorities.
• Containment measures have been initiated as per the contingency plan of DADF. Culling of birds has started and so far 3209 birds have been culled.
• 197 poultry workers involved in culling operations have been put on chemoprophylaxis.
• The micro-planning for active surveillance has been done. Surveillance activities have started in 0-3 Km. Out of a total population of 40,266 (spread over 23 villages), 36,514 has been covered on 16.01.10. 19 cases of URI / fever have been identified in the community but had no exposure history to sick/dead poultry.
• The identified hospital has reported 36 cases of fever with URI but none of them have history of contact with infected poultry.
• State Govt. has adequate stock of oseltamivir and personal protective equipment. The affected district has 6610 oseltamivir capsules, 304 PPE and ninety N-95 masks in its stock.
