India: Assam, AVIAN INFLUENZA A/H5N1 IN POULTRY (December 2008+)

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, a new confirmed h5n1 poultry epizootic (11/26/2008) [rsoe edis]

Bird flu hits Assam again
BS Reporter / Kolkata/ Guwahati December 04, 2008, 0:13 IST


Following the confirmation of presence of H5N1 virus or bird flu among domestic poultry in Kamrup district, the Assam government has prohibited sale of poultry and eggs in the district.

With around 5 lakh people associated with the poultry business in Assam, of which nearly half are marginal farmers, the reappearance of bird flu is expected to once again hit the poultry sector of the state.
Earlier this year, the states poultry sector was hit due to culling and ban on sale of poultry products following the outbreak of the disease among poultries in neighbouring state of West Bengal.
An office bearer of All Assam Poultry Farmers' Association (AAPFA) said that outbreak of bird flu for the second time would wipe out the marginal farmers from the industry, as it will be difficult for them to bounce back with scarce resources, and will set the stage for entry of big and organised players.
He admitted that there is a decline in sale of poultry products across the state as bird flu panic has gripped among the people.
Though he could not spell out the exact loss the poultry sector has incurred in the last few days or is expected to incur in the coming days, he said "if the disease spreads to others areas, the loss would be huge."
He said that the wholesale price of broiler chicken has fallen from Rs. 50-55 to Rs. 35-40.
Nonetheless, he added that the members of the association are cooperating with the culling personnel.
He demanded adequate compensation from the government as poultry business is the mainstay for many marginal farmers in the state.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=342166

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, a new confirmed h5n1 poultry epizootic (11/26/2008) [rsoe edis]

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12040801/H5N1_India_Migrate.html

[Giuseppe]

Re: India: Assam, a new confirmed h5n1 poultry epizootic (11/26/2008) [rsoe edis]

INDIA: AVIAN INFLUENZA IN POULTRY, ASSAM, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, UPDATE (12/1/2008)

Full document PDF at LINK



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[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, a new confirmed h5n1 poultry epizootic (11/26/2008) [rsoe edis]

spreads to new areas
Guwahati | Thursday, Dec 4 2008 IST


The dreaded disease bird flu has spread to new places of Assam as more deaths of chickens have been reported from Barpeta even as culling operations are on in full swing in Kamrup district.
Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup district R C Jain confirmed that bird flu has spread to Azara area of the district after affecting a large area of Hajo near Guwahati.
The Bhopal-based High Security Animal Diseases Diagnostic Laboratory (HSADL) has already confirmed presence of the virus among the fowl of Sarpara and Patgaon villages of Kamrup district.
This is the second case of outbreak of the dreaded disease caused by the H5N1 virus in the state. The first case was detected in Rajabazar village of Hajo Revenue Circle in the same district on November 27.
Sarpara village is located under the Rampur Development Block of Palasbari Revenue Circle while Patgaon is located under Rani Development Block of Azara Revenue Circle.
Culling operations in the Rani and Rampur development block areas, covering around 22 villages, will start tomorrow and 40 Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) have been formed to conduct the operations in an area of three km radius in each of the blocks for eliminating the entire backyard poultry population.
Rampur Development Block has many commercial poultry firms while in the Rani Block, most of the poultry population is household backyard ones.
Meanwhile, preparations are on to launch the mopping up operations in 20 villages of Hajo revenue circle which have been covered under culling operation for the last few days. According to official sources, mopping up operations are expected to start in the revenue circle tomorrow. Till yesterday evening, around 46,000 backyard birds were killed in the area.
The State Animal Disease Emergency Committee held a meeting here yesterday chaired by Additional Chief Secretary Parul Devi Das. The meeting reviewed the present situation and asked the Deputy Commissioners of both Kamrup and Kamrup (Metro) to impose restrictions on transportation of poultry and poultry products in an area of 13 km radius from the villages which reported occurrence of bird flu.
The DCs of other districts of the state have also been alerted and asked to maintain strict vigil on the situation. The meeting was also attended by Joint Commissioner (LHS) of the Government of India and other senior officials of the concerned State Government Departments.
The sale of poultry has been affected in the entire state but so far ban on the sale has been restricted to Kamrup (rural) district.
With temprature remaining low, the disease is apprehended to spread further unless emergent measures are taken.

-- (UNI) -- 04CA6.xml

http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20081204/1120056.html

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, a new confirmed h5n1 poultry epizootic (11/26/2008) [rsoe edis]

District map of Barpeta

http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/assam/districts/barpeta.htm

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, a new confirmed h5n1 poultry epizootic (11/26/2008) [rsoe edis]

Commentary at

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12040802/H5N1_Barpeta.html

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, a new confirmed h5n1 poultry epizootic (11/26/2008) [rsoe edis]

Bird flu spreads to new areas of Assam

Rangiya: Bird flu spread to fresh areas of Assam’s Kamrup district on Thursday forcing the government to deploy 15 rapid response teams in the worst affected Palasbari circle.
The disease has spread to Dohali, Sarpara, Dokhola, Hudungpur, Rani and Patgaon areas of Palasbari circle where the rapid response team with specialists and doctors have be sent, the district’s Deputy Commissioner R.C. Jain said.
In Hajo circle, also considered to be another worst affected area, nearly 60,000 birds have been so far culled and more will follow in the next couple of days, he said. Residents, whose birds have been culled so far, were paid a compensation of Rs. 18,17,300. There were, however, protests from villagers who were unwilling to allow their poultry to be culled. — PTI

http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/05/stories/2008120550200100.htm

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: India: Assam, a new confirmed h5n1 poultry epizootic (11/26/2008) [rsoe edis]

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12...a_Migrate.html

Commentary

H5N1 Sequences Migrate Into India
Recombinomics Commentary 12:11
December 4, 2008

While it is not impossible that this outbreak in Assam in northeast India might be due to migratory birds, there is as yet very little evidence for them playing a meaningful part in the epidemiology of this disease, in fact, rather to the contrary, as commercial movements of poultry and such have been found to be the consistent cause.

More detailed genomic analysis will show where this recent Assam HPAI strain is most likely from. - Mod.MHJ]

The above comments on the Assam outbreak and sequences are curious. Sequence analysis strongly points toward a migratory bird origin, as noted by officials in India. The comments from India are based on sequence analysis of early outbreaks in India and neighboring Bangladesh.

Sequences from outbreaks in the 2005/2006 season have been made public and all sequences west of China, including sequences from India are clade 2.2, the Qinghai strain isolated at the Qinghai Lake Nature Reserve in the spring of 2005. One sub-clade, 2.2.3 was found in south Asia (India and Afghanistan), and regions adjacent to the Caspian Sea (in Russia and Iran) as well as one isolate from Italy.

More recently 2006/2007 sequences have been published from Pakistan, which were also clade 2.2.3, and the cleavage site of sequences from the 2007 outbreak in Bangladesh were also clade 2.2. Similarly, the sequences from the outbreaks in West Bengal and Bangladesh a year ago were also described as the Qinghai strain. Thus, all sequence analysis to date supports a wild bird origin for these outbreaks.

An extensive sequence analysis could be used to prove or disprove movement from one farm to the next. Sequence evidence for such trade-related movement is limited. The best example was found in 2007 outbreaks in Hungary and England which were virtually identical (99.96&#37;), but this outbreak was the exception. Analysis of other sequences demonstrates near identity between multiple isolates from the same outbreak, but comparisons with other outbreaks, even when collections are close in time and space, are distinct, demonstrating independent introductions.

These independent introductions were demonstrated once again by sequences recently released fro 2007/2008 outbreaks in Europe. These sequences involve clade 2.2.3 isolates that grew out of another large scale die off of migratory birds. The outbreak was in the summer of 2006 at Uvs Lake in Mongolia and lead to sequences that were related to the earlier 2006 sequences, but distinct. These Uvs Lake sequences were subsequently detected in South Korea and Japan at the end of 2007, followed by Kuwait at the beginning of 2007.

The sequences then unexpected appeared in the Czech Republic, Germany, and France in the summer of 2007. Although all sequences were the Uvs Lake strain, each outbreak represented an independent introduction. Those outbreaks were followed by additional outbreaks in the fall of 2007 and beginning of 2008 in the Middle East and Europe and several of these sequences were recently released. The Uvs Lake sequences in Europe fall onto two branches. One branch has sequences from Krasnodar and three of the isolates from Germany. The other branch has sequences from Romania, the Czech Republic, Germany, and the two outbreaks in England (free range turkeys at the end of 2007 and swans at the beginning of 2008). Sequences from the same outbreak are identical (a chicken and swan isolate from Krasnodar or a chicken, turkey and cat sequence from Romania). However, sequences from separate outbreaks, such as the four in Germany in the summer of 2007, are readily distinguishable from each other.

Thus, sequences from Assam are likely to be related to recent sequences from Bangladesh, but the sequences are also likely to be distinct enough to once again demonstrate independent introductions.


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[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, a new confirmed h5n1 poultry epizootic (11/26/2008) [rsoe edis]

Culling operations on in Rani block
</B>Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, Dec 4 ? Culling operations in two villages of Rani-Rampur Development Blocks started today in the wake of outbreak of bird flu among the poultry populations of the two development blocks. Official sources here said that the Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) of the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department touched two villages ? Jobe and Patgaon today while conducting the culling operations. Altogether 335 backyard birds were killed in the two villages during the day?s operation, said the sources.

Meanwhile, moping operations started today in the Hajo areas, where culling operations were conducted earlier to create an elimination zone for preventing spread of the bird flu within a radius of 3 km from the Razabazar village where the disease occurred among its poultry populations, said the sources.

In all, 20 villages of Hajo Revenue Circle were covered by the culling operations. The culling operations in Rani-Rampur areas are expected to cover around 22 villages, said the sources.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/...d=dec0508/at05

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: India: Assam, a new confirmed h5n1 poultry epizootic (11/26/2008) [rsoe edis]

Commentary at

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12...1_Barpeta.html

Commentary

Likely H5N1 Spread to Barpeta Assam
Recombinomics Commentary 18:21
December 4, 2008

The dreaded disease bird flu has spread to new places of Assam as more deaths of chickens have been reported from Barpeta

Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup district R C Jain confirmed that bird flu has spread to Azara area of the district after affecting a large area of Hajo near Guwahati.

The Bhopal-based High Security Animal Diseases Diagnostic Laboratory (HSADL) has already confirmed presence of the virus among the fowl of Sarpara and Patgaon villages of Kamrup district.

The above comments suggest H5N1 has spread to Barpeta, which, if confirmed, would represent the spread of H5N1 to three districts (the first two are Kamrup, rural and Kamrup, metro) in Assam, India.

Earlier media reports has cited Rajabazar Village of the epicenter, where H5N1 was confirmed last week. However, subsequent reports described suspected and confirmed H5N1 to the east. Barpeta would represent spread to the west (see updated map), which would be expected if Rajabazar was the epicenter.

Recent comments have also focused attention on migratory birds which have been arriving in the region. H5N1 in migratory birds as well as resident wild birds would likely spread H5N1 beyond the borders of these three districts. Therefore more poultry deaths and H5N1 confirmations are expected.


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[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: India: Assam, a new confirmed h5n1 poultry epizootic (11/26/2008) [rsoe edis]

Friday,5 December 2008

Bird flu reaches outskirts of Guwahati

- Guwahati: Culling operations began here at Patgaon, in the outskirts of the city in Assam, amid fears of an outbreak of Bird flu in the region.

The poultry sale has been banned in the area as experts were debating over the health hazard in properly cooked chicken.

Starting from Hajo area, the disease spread over almost half of the entire Kamrup (Rural) and all the pockets around the city as these places have major broiler business supplying chickens to the huge market of the city, said Kamrup DC R C Jain.

Deputy Commissioner Mr Jain confirmed that bird flu has spread to Azara area of the district after affecting a large part of Hajo in the district.

Bhopal-based High Security Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (HSADL) has already confirmed presence of the virus of the dreaded bird flu among the diseased backyard fowls of Sarpara and Patgaon villages of Kamrup district.

This is the fourth case of outbreak of the dreaded disease caused by the H5N1 virus in the State. The first case was detected in Rajabazar village of Hajo Revenue Circle in the same district on November 27.

The Sarpara village is located under the Rampur Development Block of Palasbari Revenue Circle, while Patgaon comes under the Rani Development Block of Azara Revenue Circle, just two km from the Guwahati airport.

Culling operations in the Rani and Rampur development block areas covering around 22 villages has started and 40 Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) have been formed to conduct the operations in an area of three km radius in each of the blocks for eliminating the entire backyard poultry population.

Meanwhile, preparations are on to launch the moping operations in the 20 villages of Hajo revenue circle which have been covered under culling operations for the last few days.

According to official sources, moping operations are expected to start in the revenue circle tomorrow.

Till yesterday evening, around 46,000 backyard birds were killed in the area, sources added.

http://week.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/contentView.do?contentId=4847070&programId=1073754912&pageTypeId=1073754893&contentType=EDITORIAL

[Commonground]

Re: India: Assam, a new confirmed h5n1 poultry epizootic (11/26/2008) [rsoe edis]

Bird flu outbreak prompts poultry product ban

4 December, 2008

Following an outbreak of bird flu (H5N1) in neighbouring Assam?s Kamrup district on November 27, the department of livestock has banned the import of eggs and frozen chicken from Assam and West Bengal states.

Import of eggs and frozen chicken from identified sources in India are allowed only through the Phuentsholing gate. A news release from the department of livestock said that movement of poultry ad poultry products, including animal feed from Phuentsholing, to the eastern dzongkhags sharing a border with Assam would be allowed only through the lateral highway.

Import permits for day-old-chicks (for breeding), which have already been issued for import via Guwahati, was immediately revoked to prevent the disease from entering Bhutan. ?We won?t place a blanket ban on all poultry imports, but we want to caution people by being selective,? said the chief livestock officer, Dr Karma Tenzin. ?We request people to cook chicken at 70 degree Celsius for at least five minutes to be on the safe side,? he said.

Meanwhile, the department has reactivated the veterinary vigilance team (VVT) for clinical and laboratory surveillance along the southern border dzongkhags, especially in Samdrup Jongkhar and Sarpang.

Appropriate regulatory and quarantine activities, such as disinfection of vehicles and high risk goods, has resumed at all entry points as a precautionary measure. Poultry feed from Samrat feed mills in Siliguri would be allowed only if it were transported through the lateral route.

Sonam dechen

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, a new confirmed h5n1 poultry epizootic (11/26/2008) [rsoe edis]

Panic in Assam as bird flu spreads to new district
Guwahati | Friday, Dec 5 2008 IST


Panic spread in lower Assam as the dreaded bird flu has spread to Barpeta district after taking in its grip almost half of Kamrup district.
Health authorities said the disease had spread to Barpeta and confirmed that it was the worst ever avian flu attack in the region since its detection.
The authorities admitted that they had not been able to contain the virus which had been threatening to wipe out Assam's entire poultry as the temperature was all set to dip in the next 30 days.
The authorities informed that the flu spreads when the temperature is on the lower side and there was fear that it could spread to humans.
Already it had reached the outskirts of Guwahati as culling operation began at Patgaon in Rani area near Guwahati airport, considered greater outskirt of the city.
Sale of poultry haS been banned in the area. Guwahati witnessed a slump in sales even as experts debated the health hazard of even properly cooked meat.
With Id-Ul-Zohha next Tuesday, traders as well as followers of Islam are in quandary as chicken is one of the main cuisines on the table that day. EDS:Here pick up suitably from earlier series.

-- (UNI) -- 05CA23.xml

http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20081205/1121610.html

[HenryN]

Re: India: Assam, a new confirmed h5n1 poultry epizootic (11/26/2008) [rsoe edis]

Commentary at

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12050802/H5N1_Barpeta_Panic.html

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: India: Assam, a new confirmed h5n1 poultry epizootic (11/26/2008) [rsoe edis]

Commentary at

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12...eta_Panic.html

Commentary

Panic in India as H5N1 Spreads to New District
Recombinomics Commentary 15:47
December 5, 2008

Panic spread in lower Assam as the dreaded bird flu has spread to Barpeta district after taking in its grip almost half of Kamrup district.

Health authorities said the disease had spread to Barpeta and confirmed that it was the worst ever avian flu attack in the region since its detection.

The authorities admitted that they had not been able to contain the virus which had been threatening to wipe out Assam's entire poultry as the temperature was all set to dip in the next 30 days.

The authorities informed that the flu spreads when the temperature is on the lower side and there was fear that it could spread to humans.

The above comments confirm the spread of H5N1 to a new district, Barpeta, in Assam (see updated map). The comments also raise concerns of additional spread in the upcoming weeks. Reports of H5N1 in India and Bangladesh rose sharply in January of this year, generating the worst H5N1 outbreaks in both countries reported to date.

Bangladesh reported H5N1 in a child in the slums of Dhaka, who recovered. However, it is likely that significant numbers of infections in Bangaldesh and India went unreported. Early video reports from West Bengal included villagers collecting dead birds without PPE’s as well as reports of consumption of the dead birds followed by bird flu symptoms. However, these cases were observed and not tested, raising concerns of widespread infections.

In addition to reports of humans with symptoms, wild bird deaths (resident and migratory) were linked to the poultry outbreaks, include large numbers of crows. Bangladesh confirmed H5N1 in the crows, but India has never reported H5N1 in any hosts other than domestic poultry.

These past reporting shortfalls suggest testing in the current outbreak will be limited. India has acknowledged the potential role of migratory birds in current outbreaks, but sequences from the earlier outbreak in West Bengal remain at Genbank under password protection.

The confirmation of H5N1 in India and Bangladesh, as well as expect spread in the near term remain causes for concern.


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