Bird Flu In West Bengal

 

 

# 5854

 

After battling the H5N1 virus in Tripura during the Spring, India declared itself free of bird flu this past July. But, as we’ve seen before in India, Vietnam, Cambodia, and many other countries .  .  .  such declarations are often short lived.

 

In early August India notified the OIE of a fresh outbreak of H5N1 among poultry in Assam (see Immediate notification ) and yesterday provided a follow up report indicating another outbreak in West Bengal (see Follow-up report No. 1).

 

This morning, the Indian newspapers are full of stories about this latest outbreak, which reportedly began in Nadia, West Bengal on September 14th. 

 

Culling of all poultry within 3km of the reported outbreak been ordered as well as increased surveillance and restrictions on the sale and transport of poultry within 10 Km. 

 

Typical of the reporting this morning is this story from the Economic Times:

 

20 Sep, 2011, 02.50PM IST, PTI

Bird flu, Avian influenza, detected in poultry samples in Nadia, West Bengal

 

India has been battling sporadic outbreaks of the H5N1 virus in poultry since 2008, although no human cases have been documented. 

 

Concerns run high since India is one of six countries where the virus is believed well entrenched (along with Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Indonesia and Vietnam).

 

Today The Hindu carries a long, cautionary editorial on the threat of bird flu.

 

This threat is not just for the birds

N. Gopal Raj

 

Earlier this month the FAO made headlines when it warned of a `mutated’ strain of bird flu spreading in China and Vietnam (see FAO Warns On Bird Flu). 

 

This new clade 2.3.2.1 has been around for at least a year, and is a variant of the 2.3.2 clade which has been circulating for several years.  

 

In response the World Health Organization (see WHO Statement On New Bird Flu Clade) stated that based on the available evidence `this evolution of the H5N1 virus poses no increased risk to public health.

 

But it is further evidence that the virus continues to mutate and evolve.

 

For now H5N1 is primarily a threat to poultry.

 

The virus remains poorly adapted to human physiology, and despite ample opportunities in places like Egypt and Indonesia, only causes rare, sporadic infections.

 

The concern, of course, is that over time that may change.  And so the world remains at Pre-pandemic Phase III for the H5N1 virus, and we continue to watch for signs that the virus is adapting to humans.

Bird Flu Spreading In West Bengal

 

 

# 4272

 

 

 

With few changes, the story below is one we might have seen last year, or even the year before.    H5N1 outbreaks in West Bengal have become a regular event during the winter months.

 

And almost as predictable as the outbreaks themselves, is the (understandable but unwise) resistance by villagers to culling, and allegations of mismanaged compensation programs.

 

Based on a news report from a week ago (see Culling To Begin In Murshidabad) this outbreak began with poultry deaths on or about January 5th.  

 

A fair and properly administered culling compensation program is essential for any developing country that hopes to contain their bird flu problems.   And along with that must go aggressive public education on the signs, symptoms, and dangers of bird flu.

 

While a handful of chickens in backyard coops may not seem like much, to many of these villagers it represents a substantial portion of their financial and food security for their families.

 

Whether the allegations of financial mismanagement have merit or not, the delays in completing culling present an opportunity for the virus to continue to spread.

 

This report from the Indian Express.

 

 

As bird flu strikes again, villagers oppose culling

Ravik Bhattacharya

Thursday , Jan 21, 2010 at 0349 hrs Kolkata:

As bird flu strikes again in Bengal, the state government seems struggling to contain the outbreak.

 

The outbreak, which started in Khargram block in Murshidabad, has already spread to the neighbouring Kandhi block. The villagers have demanded an increase in compensation and alleged that they are yet to receive aid for the 2008 outbreak.

 

These include villagers from Borowan, Mahisar, Baliya, Kirtipur, Parulia, Khargram and Jaipur.

 

As culling teams visited Borowan on Tuesday, locals stopped them from taking away their hens and ducks. Despite police escorts, the teams could not enter the villages. There are 59 culling teams working in the area, most of whom have been given police escorts.

(Continue . . . )