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

[HenryN]

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

India likely to ask B?desh to contain bird flu

ASHOK B SHARMA
Posted: 2008-12-08 00:11:21+05:30 IST
Updated: Dec 08, 2008 at 0011 hrs IST

Govt working out package for bird flu victims
New Delhi: India is likely to ask Bangladesh to help contain the spread of bird flu in the region. This deadly disease related to poultry birds recently occurred in Assam, which borders Bangladesh. Indian authorities feel that the deadly virus has entered the country from Bangladesh
Bird flu has spread to Barpeta, Nalabari and Kamrup districts in Assam leading to culling of over 1,00,000 birds. The worst hit area and the epicentre is Palasbari circle. The neigbouring states like Tripura and Mizoram have sounded a high alert. Bird Flu has been occurring in the country since 2006 and has severely affected the poultry industry and exports. The last incidence of bird flu was reported in West Bengal in February, 2008 and after extensive culling operations and control measures, the world animal health organisation ? OIE ? declared the country as bird flu-free in mid-November, this year. But before some importing countries could lift the ban on Indian exports, the tragedy visited again in the first week of December.
Earlier, there were incidences of bird flu in northeastern India and authorities had maintained that the virus spread from Bangladesh.
The matter was taken up in the forum of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). ?We have asked the ministry of external affairs to take up the issue with Bangladesh for containing the spread of the deadly virus. We are members of the eight-nation body SAARC and the region has to be free of bird flu virus and the cooperation of Bangladesh is absolutely necessary,? said a senior official in the department of animal husbandry.

http://www.financialexpress.com/news/India-likely-to-ask-B-desh-to-contain-bird-flu/395429/

[HenryN]

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

Mizoram sounds bird flu alert
Aizawl | Sunday, Dec 7 2008 IST


The Mizoram government has sounded a bird flu alert, following the outbreak of avian flu in neighbouring Assam.
''The Mizoram government has sealed its border with Assam against import of poultry and poultry products from yesterday. We have directed officials to maintain a close vigil along the border,'' director of animal husbandry and veterinary C Sangnghina told UNI here today.
More than 100,000 poultry were culled in Assam during the past ten days after a bird flu outbreak in the state, he added.
He, however, assured, ''So far, there are no reports of avian flu outbreak in Mizoram, but prevention is better than cure.The state government has already set up rapid action teams in each district.''
-- (UNI) -- 07CA25.xml

http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20081207/1122914.html

[AlaskaDenise]

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

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12..._Spread_6.html

Commentary

H5N1 Spread to Sixth District in Assam India
Recombinomics Commentary 17:51
December 7, 2008

An alert has been sounded in lower Assam districts, as bird-flu is spreading to Nalbari, Baska, Barpeta and Bongaigaon from Kamrup (rural) district, official sources said here today.

Starting from Hajo revenue circle of Kamrup (rural) early this week the avian disease spread to fresh districts, forcing the government to deploy several rapid response teams in the affected areas for culling of the birds.

Along with the rapid response team, specialists and doctors were deployed in the affected areas, the sources said.

Kamrup (rural) district deputy commissioner R C Jain told that the avian flu was suspected to have been brought into the state by migratory birds.

Stating that some poultry owners were resisting culling, official sources said their birds would be culled with police assistance and legal action would be taken against them.

The outbreak of bird-flu was confirmed by the Bhopal-based animal disease laboratory, after testing blood samples of the affected birds.

The above comments indicate H5N1 has spread to a sixth district, Bongaigaon (see updated map). This rapid spread has led to alerts in adjacent areas, including states to the south (Tripura and Mizoram), raising concerns that the spread of H5N1 has extended significantly beyond the confirmed areas.

Recent media reports indicated positive samples were collected 10 days earlier, raising concerns that H5N1 has already spread into adjacent districts in Assam, and states adjacent to Assam. West Bengal is only 30 miles from the Bogaigaon district capital and outbreaks in Kamrup are only 10 miles from the border with Meghalaya.

Moreover, the culling delays could lead to infection of local resident and migratory birds, which could lead to significant spread, even if borders are closed.

The rapid spread of H5N1 in Assam, and advance of significant temperature drops, remains cause for concern.


.

[Sally Furniss]

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

translation from Chinese
Local government sent a full time staff to monitor birds
This article pre-dates the outbreaks in Tripura and Mizoram

International online news (reporter Hu Wei-min): According to the Indo-Asian News Service reported that as recently in northeast India's Assam region of the bird flu continues to spread, the adjacent Tripura and Mizoram also has entered the State of alert.

According to the Indian Ministry of Health confirmed that the Assam belonging to the H5N1 avian influenza virus type.

In order to prevent the spread of the disease in the past few days in Assam has killed some areas 100,000 poultry.

India's north-eastern states of agricultural trade between the close, the neighboring Tripura and Mizoram have formulated an emergency plan. At present, the local government has sent a full-time staff, and to closely monitor the birds around the neighboring Assam state of health. So far, the two states were not found in an outbreak of bird flu cases.

http://news.sohu.com/20081207/n261064298.shtml

[HenryN]

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

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12070803/H5N1_Assam_Delays.html

[HenryN]

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

Bird flu check at Jiri<!EpnHeading14End>
Source: The Sangai Express / Jacob Panmei

Jiribam, December 07 2008: Following detection of bird flu cases in neighbouring State Assam, Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry has opened a check gate at Jiri bridge to check the transportation of poultry products from Assam to Manipur.

Deputy Director of Jiri Veterinery office, Dr S Thoiba said that precautionary measures have been taken up by banning transportation of poultry products from Assam to Manipur.

He also said that the department has been assisted by ADC Jiri and Jiri Police in the said drive.

http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=14..081208.dec08

[HenryN]

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

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=heading style="HEIGHT: 20px" vAlign=top bgColor=#ffeeca height=20>Bird flu alert in Assam: Culling operations going on
</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 4px; FONT-SIZE: 12px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; WIDTH: 100%; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; PADDING-TOP: 4px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana; HEIGHT: 75px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" vAlign=top> Dec 7
In Assam, more than one lakh fifty thousand poultry birds have been culled so far in the bird flu affected areas of the State. 432 Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) have been deployed for culling operation in 83 villages in Kamrup Nalbari, Barpeta and Baksa districts after confirmation of spread of avian influenza. The State Director of Veterinary Department Dr. Aswini Kotoky told our Guwahati Correspondent this evening that unnatural death of poultry birds have been reported from some more areas of Bongaigaon and Chirang districts. Blood and faecal samples of poultry birds have been collected from those places and they are being sent to the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory at Bhopal for tests.
Meanwhile, the State Government has banned sale and transportation of poultry birds and products in the bird flu-affected areas as a precautionary measure. People are being advised not to consume meat of poultry birds in the disease-prone areas. The Government has asked the people to cooperate with the administration for completion of the culling operation with a view to contain the dreaded disease.

http://164.100.52.41/news.asp?cat=National&id=NN4443

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[HenryN]

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

Updated map

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&t=h&hl=en&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=106484775090296685271.0004353ecc9cb8856de8c&num=200&start=400&ll=26.327884,91.428223&spn=2.333552,3.026733&z=8

[HenryN]

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

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12080801/H5N1_Assam_Spread_7.html

[HenryN]

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

Chirang district map

http://assampolice.com/districts/chirang.php

[AlaskaDenise]

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

Commentary

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

Commentary

H5N1 Culling Delays Increase Pandemic Concerns in India
Recombinomics Commentary 20:05
December 7, 2008

The dreaded bird flu or avian influenza, which was confirmed at a village of Hajo in Kamrup district on November 27, has since spread to a number of new areas of several districts. This is a matter of grave concern, as the efforts initiated at containing the disease have not been successful.

First, the authorities were late in having the abnormal death of fowls in large numbers – reported since November 21 -- confirmed as bird flu.

Then, allegations have also been made about the unscientific disposal of the remains of the dead birds

The above comments are from a recent Assam Tribune editorial. The number of confirmed districts has grown to six (see satellite map), and media reports indicate the daily confirmations are from samples collected 10 days ago, raising concerns that the spread is well beyond the confirmed locations.

The sequence of events is similar to those of West Bengal a year earlier. Testing was limited and delayed, resulting in the start of culling long after birds began to die. Eventually, culling was initiated in regions with excessive poultry deaths, followed by culling in regions bordering West Bengal. However, the spread was great in both West Bengal and adjacent Bangladesh, resulting in the largest outbreaks reported to date.

However, these culling delays can allow spread to snowball though additional infections of villagers as well as resident wild birds and mammals who eat the birds. A year ago in West Bengal, villagers were either eating the dead birds, or improperly disposing of them, creating opportunities for further H5N1 spread. Moreover, vouchers below Market value led to hiding of birds or transport to other areas. Although West Bengal borders were sealed, the H5N1 rapidly spread.

In Assam, the spread has also been rapid, even though the outbreaks began a month earlier when the temperature was warmer. This rapid spread may have created excessive birds deaths in other areas. India is already blaming Bangladesh from spread, and other states have issued alerts, even though they are not adjacent to the confirmed outbreaks.

Thus, the current extent of spread remains unclear, but the shortage of culling groups and delayed culling remain causes of concern. In addition to the spread, the delays in controlling the spread increase the number of mammals infected by H5N1, which increases the likelihood for selection of genetic changes that will increase the efficiency of transmission to humans.

Last season one H5N1 human case was confirmed in Bangladesh, but many additional unreported cases were likely.

Repeated poorly controlled outbreaks in this region continue to increase the likelihood of a catastrophic pandemic.


.

[AlaskaDenise]

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

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12..._Spread_7.html

Commentary

Likely H5N1 Spread to Seventh District in Assam India
Recombinomics Commentary 08:12
December 8, 2008

In Assam, more than one lakh fifty thousand poultry birds have been culled so far in the bird flu affected areas of the State. 432 Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) have been deployed for culling operation in 83 villages in Kamrup Nalbari, Barpeta and Baksa districts after confirmation of spread of avian influenza. The State Director of Veterinary Department Dr. Aswini Kotoky told our Guwahati Correspondent this evening that unnatural death of poultry birds have been reported from some more areas of Bongaigaon and Chirang districts.

The above comments suggest that H5N1 has spread to Chirang, a seventh district in Assam (see updated map). Chirang is adjacent to Bongaigaon, where H5N1 was confirmed by local officials. The test confirmations in Bhopal are lagging deaths by as many as 10 days, but the above unnatural poultry deaths suggest H5N1 continues to spread ahead of confirmatory lab tests.

These latest deaths are near the borders of West Bengal and Bhutan, including the Manas Wildlife Sanctuary in Bhutan and Assam, as well as the Buxa Wildlife Sancuary in West Bengal, which could lead to an accelerated spread.


.

[Treyfish]

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

Culling continues in Assam, as bird flu spreads

Kamrup (Assam), Dec 8 : At least 100,000 birds have been culled in Assam after bird flu began to spread in an alarming manner.More than 100,000 chickens and ducks have been be slaughtered over the weekend in around 20 villages, after one of them, just 35 km of Guwahati, was hit by bird flu.

Authorities are worried about a new outbreak after some poultry deaths were reported in Palasbari.

"It is around between two to three lakh. About two lakh more need to be culled," said S L Mewara, the state's commissioner of veterinary and animal husbandry department.

The virus has now spread to Barpeta and Nalbari districts besides Kamrup district.

Samples sent earlier to laboratories in Bhopal had tested positive or H5N1 avian influenza.

The State Government ordered culling operations and officers began going from house to house urging villagers to hand over their poultry.

Sale and movement of poultry in and around Guwahati has been prohibited and precautionary measures stepped up in other parts of the state.

Migratory birds from Siberia and Myanmar are believed to be the carrier agent of the flu to Assam.

India has not reported any human infections so far, though the first outbreak in poultry was reported in 2006 in Maharashtra.http://www.newkerala.com/topstory-fullnews-57633.html

[HenryN]

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

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 width="100%" bgColor=#ffffff border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=left>Bird flu outbreak prompts poultry product ban
<!-- Posted on Friday, December 05 @ 02:43:09 CST by webmaster --></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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.

http://www.kuenselonline.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=11568

[HenryN]

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


<CENTER>7091-INDIA-BIRD FLU</CENTER>
<!--Feed: SUBCON_EXTRA-->MOD-DATE: 12/07/08 15:46:34
<!--body-->SUBCONX-DEC07-7091-INDIA-BIRD FLU
SUBCONX: STORY 7091

7091-INDIA-BIRD FLUKAMRUP, ASSAM, INDIADECEMBER 07, 2008 <!-- "date2" field is empty --> <!-- "date3" field is empty--> <!-- "date4" field is empty --> <!-- "date5" field is empty -->NATURAL WITH ENGLISH SPEECHDURATION:00:51

SOURCE:ANI<!-- No longer used: FEED HISTORY: f-history -->

INTRO: <!-- "intro" field is empty -->
HEADLINE: Culling continues in northeastern India as bird flu spreads.
TV AND WEB RESTRICTIONS~**NONE**~Culling continues as bird flu spreads alarmingly in India's northeasternstate Assam.SHOWS:KAMRUP (DECEMBER 07, 2008) (ANI-ACCESS ALL)1. CULLING OFFICIALS PUTTING CHICKENS IN A SACK 2. BIRDS BEING CULLED3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) S L MEWARA, COMMISSIONER, VETERINARY AND ANIMALHUSBANDRY DEPARTMENT, NORTHEASTERN ASSAM STATE, SAYING: "It is around between two to three lakh (200,000-300,0000). We havealready covered ? more than a lakh (100,000) birds we have culled so far tillyesterday. About two lakh more need to be culled."4. CULLING OFFICIALS STANDING SURROUNDED BY CHILDRENSTORY: India's northeastern Assam state has culled at least 100,000 birdsafter bird flu began to spread in an alarming manner, officials said on Sunday(December 07).Veterinary officials scouted the countryside in culling operation as thetarget increased to 200,000 to 300,000 birds by Sunday.More than 100,000 chickens and ducks have been be slaughtered over theweekend in around 20 villages, after one of them, just 35 km (21 miles) westof Guwahati -- the biggest city in the region -- was hit by bird flu. Authorities were worried about a new outbreak after some poultry deathswere reported in Palasbari, also close to Guwahati."It is around between two to three lakh (200,000-300,0000). We havealready covered ? more than a lakh (100,000) birds we have culled so far tillyesterday. About two lakh more need to be culled said S L Mewara, the state'scommissioner of veterinary and animal husbandry department. The virus has now spread to Barpeta and Nalbari districts besides Kamrupdistrict. Samples sent earlier to laboratories in central Bhopal had tested positiveor H5N1 avian influenza.The state government ordered culling operations and officers began goingfrom house to house urging villagers to hand over their poultry.Sale and movement of poultry in and around Guwahati has been prohibited andprecautionary measures stepped up in other parts of the state.Migratory birds from Siberia and Myanmar are believed to be the carrieragent of the flu to Assam. India has not reported any human infections so far, though the firstoutbreak in poultry was reported in 2006 in the western state of Maharashtra.RGDS,NNNN</PRE>
http://rtv.rtrlondon.co.uk/2008-12-07/b2260cb.html</PRE>