Bangladesh - Fresh bird flu scare grips poultry sector, October 18, 2008 +

[Treyfish]

Fresh bird flu scare grips poultry sector

Govt urged to launch vaccination drive in farms


Sunday October 19 2008 00:58:34 AM BDT


A fresh bird flu scare grips the country’s embattled poultry industry after detection of avian influenza virus in a northern district farm two weeks back. Industry leaders have said the government is unprepared to prevent the disease from spreading.
and rattling the sector like it did last year, throwing many small and marginal farmers out of business.

Most of these farms, which were victims of massive culling of fowls, are still struggling to return to business amid complaints that the government forgot about many of the pledges like bank loan rescheduling facilities and due compensations.

‘The government is yet to facilitate vaccination in the poultry sector to keep the virus away,’ said the managing director of Kazi Farms Group, one of the leading poultry farms in the country.

Kazi Zahidul Hasan said the government continued to ignore the early warning from the World Health Organisation and its advice for taking steps for vaccination.

Veterinary officials confirmed bird flu in a poultry farm in Naogaon on September 29, the first case since the last one detected in a Tangail farm four months ago.

‘The detection indicates that the virus is still active and may spread to other places,’ chief veterinary officer and director of the Department of Livestock Services Salehuddin Ahmed said.

Moshiur Rahman, general secretary of Breeder’s Association of Bangladesh, alleged that the government so far did nothing to eradicate bird flu other than arranging some training programmes for officials.

Small and marginal farmers, who were left with empty firms and bank loans after a massive culling spree, are yet to get any fresh funds despite the government’s assurance, he regretted.

The government had also promised to arrange loan rescheduling facilities for six months and due compensation for the affected farms to help them recoup last year’s losses and restart business.

‘Small farmers are left out and the whole poultry business has fallen into the hands of big players, and prices of egg and poultry meat have continued to go up,’ Moshiur said.

Khondoker Mohsin, joint secretary general of Bangladesh Poultry Association, said, ‘The government gave only Tk 90 for a culled layer bird, which costs a farmer about Tk 350 for five months’ rearing until it starts producing eggs.’

Farmers were also denied compensation for birds, which died before the final diagnosis, he said.

‘I have lost everything of my poultry business. I got a compensation of only Tk 11 lakh against my investment of Tk 60 lakh, while the interest on bank loans accrued to around Tk 12 lakh’, said Sajeda Sadeque, a woman entrepreneur whose some 16,000 layer birds were culled.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Poultry Association has taken up some programmes on its own to prevent bird flu from entering the Dhaka city. The six-month programmes include spraying anti-virus drugs at 14 exit points surrounding the capital city and keeping the city’s 25 wet markets clean.

The association also initiated bio-security improvement programme in poultry concentrated areas like Gazipur, Savar, Barisal, Khulna and Bogra.

The first outbreak of avian influenza was detected on February 22 in 2007 and the virus was later confirmed in 288 farms under 47 districts in Bangladesh, leading to culling of 16,37,606 chickens in 548 farms. The industry estimated a loss of about Tk 4,500 crore from the disease.

Only one human case of avian influenza was found so far, and the disease was confirmed long after the infected boy was cured.

Even then the news of bird flu outbreak leads to serious health scare and scares poultry consumers off in a country where per head protein consumption is much lower than required for good health, industry leaders said.
http://bangladesh-web.com/view.php?hidRecord=226321

[Treyfish]

Published On: 2008-10-18

Awareness and preparedness crucial to combat bird flu




Awareness and preparedness is crucial to tackle an outbreak of bird flu before next winter. The issue was underscored in a recent NGO network orientation workshop on avian influenza organised by CARE Bangladesh, says a press release.

Keynote Papers were presented by Dr Abdul Baqi, Project Director, Strengthening of Support Service for Combating Avian Influenza in Bangladesh, Department of Livestock, Dr Abul Kalam, National Consultant of Avian Influenza, Food and Agriculture Organisation and Avian Influenza Coordinator of Care Bangladesh, Dr Quazi Md Emdadul Huque.

Dr Baki depicted the present situation of bird flu and pointed out that Bangladesh faced enormous economic losses in the poultry industry in the previous year due to the out break of bird flu.

The bird flu outbreak has also been occurred on September 29 this year at Noagaon district which is a major concern for us. In order to response this crisis, he urged to create mass awareness and take preparation to combat any out break before starting the winter season as the virus of avian influenza (H5N1) spread rapidly in winter.

Dr. Abul Kalam emphasised to work together for avian influenza collaborate with government including the staff and workers of department of livestock, health, administration, police, NGOs, civil society, community based organisations, community leaders, politicians, local elected representatives to implement the national avian and human pandemic influenza preparedness and response plan (2006-2008). He insisted on informing the concern government officials immediately for any outbreak of bird flu. He assured that ensuring the multi-sectoral response we can be able to tackle any crisis of bird flu in the country.

The speakers mentioned that the contribution of poultry industry to the national production can be damaged due to the outbreak of bird flu. Because more than five millions of people are involved with this industry and the owners and workers may be affected. Moreover, the health of children and mother may also be affected as this sector provides a lot of nutrition for them which have a long run negative impact for the country.

Migratory birds are considered to be one of the major biological vectors by which the disease travels across and between continents. About 244 species of migratory birds visit Bangladesh during the winter season (October to March), of which approximately 21 species may carry the HPAI/H5N1 virus.

CARE Bangladesh in collaboration with Academy for Educational Development (AED) have taken a project "Civil Society Organisations Network Initiatives for Avian Influenza (bird flu)” to build NGO capacity through information sharing, training and facilitating partnerships with the relevant departments in the government of Bangladesh.http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=59264

[HenryN]

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/10...sh_Return.html

[AlaskaDenise]

Originally Posted by niman

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/10...sh_Return.html

Commentary

H5N1 Returns to Bangladesh
Recombinomics Commentary 15:20
October 19, 2008

Veterinary officials confirmed bird flu in a poultry farm in Naogaon on September 29, the first case since the last one detected in a Tangail farm four months ago.

‘The detection indicates that the virus is still active and may spread to other places,’ chief veterinary officer and director of the Department of Livestock Services Salehuddin Ahmed said.

The above comments describe the re-emergence of H5N1 in Bangladesh. The re-emergence is not unexpected, but there has been no OIE report filed on the outbreak, which is mandatory for H5 and H7 infections of poultry.

There has been somewhat of a decline in the reporting of H5N1 in birds because Indonesia and Egypt have declared H5N1 endemic and report less frequently. Other countries do not report H5 and H7 in wild birds. However, the number of countries which disregard mandatory reporting is on the rise and much of the detail on H5N1 outbreaks goes unreported.

More information on the outbreak(s) in Bangladesh would be useful.

.

[Anne]

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking...ry_292364.html

Oct 19, 2008
Bangladesh finds more bird flu
DHAKA - BANGLADESH authorities said on Sunday they have detected fresh bird flu at a poultry farm four months after the deadly virus was last reported in the country. Livestock department spokesman Salahuddin Khan said at least 300 birds were destroyed in a farm in the northern Naogaon district last week after the deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza was detected.
'We have already taken extra surveillance measures across the country,' he said. 'Farmers have been told to step up bio-security.'
Mr Khan said the outbreak was the first in four months, with the virus becoming dormant at the onset of the summer but now coming back ahead of the cold season.
Officials said the outbreak was a warning for the country's US$1.5 billion (S$2.2 billion) poultry industry.
Bangladesh was hit by bird flu in February 2007, and the virus made another comeback in January this year.
At the outbreak's peak, some 50 of the country's 64 districts were affected, and more than a million birds were slaughtered.
Bangladesh's poultry industry is one of the world's largest, producing 220 million chickens and 37 million ducks annually.
Industry officials said the bird flu outbreak at its peak early this year led to closure of 40 per cent of the nation's poultry farms and left half a million workers jobless.
The country also reported its first confirmed case of human bird flu in May, but the government said the 16-month-old baby who contracted the virus had recovered. -- AF

[HenryN]

Updated map

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en...63fc91ffd61254

[HenryN]

Tripura sounds bird flu alert along Indo-Bangla border 20 Oct 2008, 1323 hrs IST,PTI

AGARTALA: An alert has been sounded along the porous Indo-Bangla international border in Tripura following reports of bird flu in the neighbouring country, official sources said here on Monday. Sylhet, Srimanagal and Habigunj districts of Bangladesh, bordering Khowai subdivision of West Tripura district and Kamalpur subdivision of Dhalai district, have recently been affected by avian influenza, the sources said. Border Security Force (BSF) was keeping a close vigil along the 856 km-long border to prevent the entry of chicken and poultry in the border markets, the sources said. The state government also alerted all the district administrations and was organising workshops with the employees on disease control, the sources said. An assistant director of animal resource department, posted at Khowai subdivision, Samarendra Das, told reporters that a coordinated effort was needed to stop the spreading of disease. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/T...ow/3618630.cms

[HenryN]

Bird flu alert sounded along Indo-Bangla border

PTI | October 20, 2008 | 13:27 IST


An alert has been sounded along the porous Indo-Bangla international border in Tripura following reports of bird flu in the neighbouring country, official sources said in Agartala on Monday.
Sylhet, Srimanagal and Habigunj districts of Bangladesh, bordering Khowai subdivision of west Tripura district and Kamalpur subdivision of Dhalai district, have recently been affected by avian influenza, the sources said.
The Border Security Force�was keeping a close vigil along the 856 km-long border to prevent the entry of chicken and poultry in the border markets, the sources said.
The state government also alerted all the district administrations and was organising workshops with the employees on disease control, the sources said.
An assistant director of the animal resource department, posted at Khowai subdivision, Samarendra Das, told reporters that a coordinated effort was needed to stop the spreading of disease.

http://ia.rediff.com/news/2008/oct/20flu.htm

[HenryN]

District map

http://www.discoverybangladesh.com/t...angladesh.html

[Treyfish]

******
[1] Bangladesh, poultry, northern Naogaon
Date: Sun 19 Oct 2008
Source: AFP via Straits Times [edited]
<http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_292364.html>


Bangladesh authorities said on Sunday [19 Oct 2008] they have
detected fresh bird flu at a poultry farm 4 months after the deadly
virus was last reported in the country.

Livestock department spokesman Salahuddin Khan said at least 300
birds were destroyed in a farm in the northern Naogaon district last
week after the deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza was detected.

"We have already taken extra surveillance measures across the
country," he said. "Farmers have been told to step up bio-security."

Mr Khan said the outbreak was the 1st in 4 months, with the virus
becoming dormant at the onset of the summer but now coming back ahead
of the cold season.

Officials said the outbreak was a warning for the country's USD 1.5
billion poultry industry.

Bangladesh was hit by bird flu in February 2007, and the virus made
another comeback in January this year [2008].

At the outbreak's peak, some 50 of the country's 64 districts were
affected, and more than a million birds were slaughtered.

Bangladesh's poultry industry is one of the world's largest,
producing 220 million chickens and 37 million ducks annually.

Industry officials said the bird flu outbreak at its peak early this
year [2008] led to closure of 40 per cent of the nation's poultry
farms and left half a million workers jobless.

The country also reported its 1st confirmed case of human bird flu in
May 2008, but the government said the 16-month-old baby who
contracted the virus had recovered.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Mary Marshall

[The HPAI H5N1 epizootic in Bangladesh started, reportedly, on 5 Feb
2007 and has been continuous since. The initial immediate
notification to the OIE was submitted on 30 Mar 2007. Since then, 286
outbreaks have been reported in the 7 follow-up reports, of which the
most recent was submitted on 11 Jun 2008. To see all reports, as well
as a map showing all accumulated outbreaks, see the event's summary at
<http://www.oie.int/wahid-prod/public.php?page=event_summary&reportid=5154>.
Click on the map to zoom in. - Mod.AS]
Jianchang

[HenryN]

Raise awareness to check spread of bird flu
Speakers tell workshop
Staff Correspondent, Chittagong

Speakers at a workshop yesterday called for intensifying the campaign to raise awareness about bird flu to save the booming poultry industry and prevent spread of the virus to humans.

They urged all to take necessary steps to avoid unwanted destruction of poultry as this industry immensely contributes to self-employment and income generation and provide nutrition for the people.

Press Institute of Bang-ladesh organised the workshop titled, 'Bird Flu awareness and preparedness' in association with Unicef at BGMEA Con-ference Room in the port city.

The speakers said the highly infectious H5N1 virus causing avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, can be transmitted to human body.

Quoting WHO statistics, they said a total of 387 people were infected with avian influenza virus across the globe in the last 21 months as of September 10 this year.

Of them, 245 people died and the highest number (112) of deaths was reported in Indonesia, they said.

However, the spread of avian influenza can be checked through various measures such as keeping ducks separate from other domestic birds and animals and using gloves and taking protective measures during the preparation of raw chicken.

The speakers revealed that avian influenza virus has attacked a total of 288 poultry farms in 47 districts since March last year and 16,37,606 birds of 578 farms were culled as of October 12.

Prof Muzahed Uddin Ahmed of Mymensingh Agricultural University was present as the chief guest at the workshop and PIB Director General Md Nazrul Islam delivered the welcome address.

PIB Instructor Parvin Sultana Rabbi spoke at the workshop coordinated by PIB Junior Instructor Mohammad Shah Alam.

One of several CNG filling stations between Kanchpur Bridge and Jatrabari of the capital which BNP big shots built on the Kutubkhali canal, drastically reducing Dhaka's drainage capability.

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=65808

[Commonground]

The speakers revealed that avian influenza virus has attacked a total of 288 poultry farms in 47 districts since March last year and 16,37,606 birds of 578 farms were culled as of October 12.

In Bangladesh. 288 Poultry farms. I didn't know that.

[Treyfish]

Steps to check Avian influenza continues

A meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Preparedness of Avian Influenza was held in the city Wednesday with Adviser for Health and Family Welfare Dr AMM Shawkat Ali in the chair, reports BSS.
A draft of National Avian and Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan, Bangladesh 2009-2011, was placed at the meeting, an official handout said.
The meeting directed the concerned ministries, that are working for controlling the avian influenza, to submit their formal opinions on the draft by December 18.
“The Avian influenza has so far attacked a child in the country and it is now well,” Shawkat said adding “we should give more attention to poultry birds to check the avian influenza.”
The adviser also said the efforts should be continued to check outbreak of the avian influenza among people, the handout added.http://www.newstoday-bd.com/metropol...newsdate=#5554

[Treyfish]

Steps to check Avian influenza
BSS, Dhaka
A meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Preparedness of Avian Influenza was held here on Wednesday with Adviser for Health and Family Welfare Dr AMM Shawkat Ali in the chair.
A draft of National Avian and Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan, Bangladesh 2009-2011, was placed at the meeting, an official handout said.
The meeting directed the concerned ministries, that are working for controlling the Avian influenza, to submit their formal opinions on the draft by December 18.
"The Avian influenza has so far attacked a child in the country and it is now well," Shawkat said adding "we should give more attention to poultry birds to check the Avian influenza."
The adviser also said the efforts should be continued to check outbreak of the Avian influenza among people, the handout added.
Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for Fisheries and Livestock Ministry Manik Lal Samaddar, Health Secretary AMM Nasir Uddin, Information Secretary Jamil Osman, Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Mohammad Ataur Rahman, Additional Secretary of Health, director generals of Health Department, Fisheries and Livestock, and high officials concerned of different departments and organisations were present at the meeting.http://www.thebangladeshtoday.com/national.htm

[HenryN]

Originally Posted by Treyfish

Steps to check Avian influenza continues




“The Avian influenza has so far attacked a child in the country and it is now well,” Shawkat said adding “we should give more attention to poultry birds to check the avian influenza.”
The adviser also said the efforts should be continued to check outbreak of the avian influenza among people, the handout added.http://www.newstoday-bd.com/metropol...newsdate=#5554

Child was infected in Dhaka in January (and reported several months later - he is the only confirmed case in Bangaldesh or India).

[HenryN]

http://aidailydigest.blogspot.com/20....html#id_35714

12/9/08 ARGUS--A national source reports that ?stray? cases of H5 avian influenza have been reported in Kamrup district in Assam and West Bengal states ?recently?. The source adds that AI cases have also been reported in several districts in the neighboring country of Bangladesh, which lies on the border of West Garo Hills districts in Meghalaya state.

[HenryN]

Import of poultry restricted in NE Indian state of Meghalaya

2008-12-09 - KUNA

NEW DELHI , Dec 9 (KUNA) -- Following the outbreak of bird flu in neighbouring Assam, the government of the north-eastern Indian state of Meghalaya has issued an order restricting import of poultry products from Assam, West Bengal and the international border to the state's Garo hills region with immediate effect. The order has been issued as a precautionary measure to prevent any outbreak of the disease that causes large-scale deaths of poultry and other birds, official sources said. Stray cases of bird flu have recently been detected in Assam's Kamrup district, West Bengal and in several districts of Bangladesh which shares a vast border with West Garo Hills district. Consumers in Garo Hills depend heavily on the import of poultry products such as chicken and eggs from outside the state. This being the peak festive season, the demand is all the more high.(end) fyf.ajs KUNA 091652 Dec 08NNNN http://www.fananews.com/look/english/article.tpl?IdLanguage=1&IdPublication=2&NrArticle=378377&NrIssue=10&NrSection=1

[HenryN]

Meghalaya imposes curb on poultry products

SHILLONG: Following the outbreak of bird flu in neighbouring Assam, Meghalaya government has issued an order restricting the import of poultry products from Assam, West Bengal and the international border to the state's Garo hills region with immediate e ffect. The order has been issued as a precautionary measure to prevent any outbreak of the disease that causes large-scale deaths of poultry and other birds, official sources said. Stray cases of bird flu have recently been detected in Assam's Kamrup district, West Bengal and in several districts of Bangladesh which shares vast border with West Garo Hills district. Consumers in Garo Hills depend heavily on the import of poultry pr oducts such as chicken and eggs from outside the state. – PTI

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blnus/27091431.htm

[HenryN]

Import of poultry restricted in Meghalaya

12/9/2008 2:30:16 PM

Following the outbreak of bird flu in neighbouring Assam, Meghalaya government has issued an order restricting the import of poultry products from Assam, West Bengal and the international border to the state's Garo hills region with immediate effect.
The order has been issued as a precautionary measure to prevent any outbreak of the disease that causes large-scale deaths of poultry and other birds, official sources said.
Stray cases of the bird flu have recently been detected in Assam's Kamrup district, West Bengal and even in several districts of Bangladesh which shares a vast border with West Garo Hills district.

Consumers in Garo Hills depend heavily on the import of poultry products such as chicken and eggs from outside the State. This being the peak festive season, the demand is all the more high.
(With inputs from Agencies)

http://timesnow.tv/NewsDtls.aspx?NewsID=23131

[HenryN]

Manipur bans import of poultry products from Assam
IMPHAL, Dec 9 – Manipur Government has banned import of poultry products including eggs, feed and chicken from Assam following spread of Avian influenza in that State, official sources said today.

An order banning poultry products from neighbouring Assam was issued yesterday by director of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry.

Besides banning poultry products from Assam, Rapid Response Teams (RRTs), which were constituted in Manipur in April last year, were also kept in a state of readiness for taking immediate action to control a possible outbreak of bird flu in the State.

Meanwhile, the Meghalaya Government has also issued an order restricting the import of poultry products from Assam, West Bengal and the international border to the State’s Garo Hills region with immediate effect.

The order has been issued as a precautionary measure to prevent any outbreak of the disease that causes large-scale deaths of poultry and other birds, official sources said.

Consumers in Garo Hills depend heavily on the import of poultry products such as chicken and eggs from outside the State. This being the peak festive season, the demand is all the more high. – PTI

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/...id=dec1008/ne1

[HenryN]

West Bengal On High Alert After Bird Flu Hits Assam
Last Updated: 09-12-2008 16:08:02 IST

After receiving confirmation of a Bird Flu outbreak in Assam a few days ago the state health department of West Bengal has put all the districts on high alert. A letter dated 1st December was issued to all the chief medical officers of health in the state by the joint director of public health. Hospitals in the state have been asked to keep tabs on influenza cases. District health officials and administration has also been asked to be prepared to deal with an emergency situation efficiently.

Briefing the media, a senior health department official of West Bengal said, “On 1st December the Centre notified us of a Bird Flu outbreak in our neighboring state Assam. On that day itself, we have put all our districts on high alert. Primarily, it was decided that only north Bengal districts would be put on alert. But later, all the districts were cautioned because the H5N1 virus has hit Bangladesh too. Earlier this year, Bird Flu entered the state when cattle traders brought poultry to Birbhum from Bangladesh.”

The animal resources development department (ARD) has also decided to increase surveillance on poultry. This time stress has been laid on bordering districts so that no infected bird is brought into the state from Bangladesh. The Centre has also asked the Border Security Force to keep a sharp watch on the cattle traders. and has instructed BSF to prevent them from taking any kind of poultry into the state from Bangladesh.

http://www.india-server.com/news/wes...bird-5073.html

[HenryN]

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

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...rd-flu/395429/

[HenryN]

Koreans Warned of Asian Bird Flu Wave

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday warned of bird flu spreading in some Asian countries including Hong Kong, and advised tourists leaving for these countries to take extra caution. According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, patients came down with avian influenza in Vietnam on Oct. 30, in Laos on Nov. 8, in Thailand on Nov. 10, in India on Nov. 21, in Bangladesh on Dec. 2, and in Hong Kong on Dec. 9. So far, a total of 38 people contracted bird flu overseas this year, and 29 of them died. (englishnews@chosun.com ) http://english.chosun.com/w21data/ht...812110018.html

[HenryN]

Commentary at

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

[AlaskaDenise]

Originally Posted by niman

Commentary at

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

Commentary

H5N1 Spread in Bangladesh
Recombinomics Commentary 07:35
December 11, 2008

Stray cases of bird flu have recently been detected in Assam's Kamrup district, West Bengal and in several districts of Bangladesh which shares a vast border with West Garo Hills district.

The above comments from a Meghalaya alert indicate H5N1 in Bangladesh has spread beyond the confirmed outbreak described in an OIE report filed last month. That outbreak began in October on a commercial poultry farm, and additional outbreaks have not been reported. In contrast, H5N1 has recently rapidly spread across Assam and confirmed cases stretch from Chirang in the northwest to Dibrugarh in the northeast (see satellite map).

Although these recent confirmed outbreaks are unlikely to link directly to Bangladesh (the confirmed outbreak in Dibrugarg is more than 400 miles from the confirmed outbreak in Bangladesh or 200 miles from the nearest Bangladesh border - see updated map), they do suggest significant levels of H5N1 are circulating in the region. The Meghalaya alert also suggests that unreported H5N1 is also in West Bengal.

Last season H5N1 in West Bengal and Bangladesh were not extensively reported until January / February, but villagers in West Bengal indicated poultry began to die in December and there were rumors that unreported outbreaks in Bangladesh in the same time frame were widespread.

Recent alerts by West Bengal and Tripura claim that last year's outbreaks were linked to smuggling from Bangladesh, but the earlier outbreaks were associated with deaths of resident and migratory birds, as well as birds of prey, dogs, and jackals, which would likely spread H5N1, even after borders were sealed.

Therefore, additional outbreaks in Bangladesh are likely at this time, and such outbreaks are likely to increase as the temperature falls. These seasonal changes will to move the H5N1 to the south via migratory birds, and Calcutta has already issued an alert that focused on spread by wild birds.

In the past, H5N1 in West Bengal and Bangladesh has been the Qinghai strain (clade 2.2) and more detailed analysis has indicated the H5N1 in the region (Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India) has been the sub-clade 2.2.3.

Human cases have been reported in Pakistan and Bangladesh in association with outbreaks last year, although the human H5N1 sequences have not been released, which is also true for avian H5N1 from the outbreaks last season or this season.

Release of these sequences, as well as more information on the recent outbreaks cited above, would be useful.


.

[HenryN]

Bird Flu Related Information up to 03 December, 2008

1. No. of Farms with confirmed H5 Virus 289
2. No. of Districts with Confirmed H5 Virus 47
(Upazilla-128, Metro Thana-14)

( Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayangonj, Tangail, Jamalpur, Jessore, Noakhali, Gaibandha, Magura, Rajbari, Nilphamari, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Jaipurhat, Lalmonirhat, Thakurgaon, Naogaon, Bagura, Feni, Pabna, Kurigram, Moulvibazar, Barisal, Rajshahi, Barguna, Natore, Patuakhali, Netrokona, Bhola, Khulna, Manikgonj, Gopalgonj, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Kustia, Jhinaidah, Norsingdhi, Bagerhat, Chittagong, Kishoregonj, Meherpur, Comilla, Shariatpur, Munshigonj, Chandpur, Satkhira, B. Baria)

3. No. of Culled Farms 549

Dhaka-72 (Savar-60, Turagh-01, Demra-01, Mirpur-03, Shabujbagh-01, Lalbagh-01, Nobabgonj-02, Badda-01, Pallabi-01, Dhamrai-01), Gazipur-38, Jamalpur-14, Narayangonj-45, Tangail-18, Jessore-11, Noakhali-03, Gaibandha-05, Magura-01, Rajbari-05, Nilphamari-15, Dinajpur-31, Rangpur-09, jaipurhat-05, Lalmonirhat-04, Thakurgaon-07, Naogaon-03, Bagura-03, Feni-11, Pabna-08, Kurigram-01, Moulvibazar-01, Barisal-07, Barguna-16, Rajshahi-09, Natore-08, Patuakhali-02, Netrokona-01, Bhola-08, Manikgonj-13, Mymensingh-07, Gopalgonj-01, Khulna-15, Sylhet-03, Jhinaidah-04, Kustia-01, Narsingdhi-66, Bagerhat-09, Chittagong-28, Kishoregonj-08, Meherpur-02, Comilla-13, Shariatpur-01, Munshigonj-04, Chandpur-04, Satkhira-05, B.Baria-04)

4. Culled on 03/12/2008 ---

5. Culling up to 03/12/2008 16, 37, 847

http://www.mofl.gov.bd/daily_birdflu_report.pdf

[HenryN]

8 December 2008 – Bangladesh On 29 September 2008 a layer farm in Naogaon District tested positive for H5N1 after 750 out of 1,100 pullets died. Fresh outbreak of poultry AI was confirmed on 2 December 2008 in northern district of Rangpur. On 28 November 2008, farmers reported unusual poultry mortality to the District Veterinary Officer. Samples tested positive for Influenza A and samples have been submitted to the National Reference Laboratory for AI for sub-typing. As of 3 December 2008, a total of 289 outbreaks had been recorded in 47 districts out of 64 districts. The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Government of Bangladesh, reported that culling of poultry has taken place in 549 farms. A total of 1,637,847 chickens have been culled. So far, the first and only human case of H5N1 infection occurred in January 2008. For further information on poultry AI, please visit the following website: Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock www.mofl.gov.bd

http://www.searo.who.int/en/Section1...2462_13930.asp

[HenryN]

Updated map

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...603027&t=p&z=7

[HenryN]

The last update I had was March 10. Between March 10 and Dec 3 the number of outbreaks rose from 224 to 289.
Farms culled rose from 459 to 549.

Some of the biggest jumps in districts were:
Dhaka 55 to 72
Savar 45 to 60
Gazipur 23 to 38
Narayanangoni 27 to 45
Tangail 7 to 18
Jamalpur 9 to 14
Rangpur 7 to 9
Manikgoni 7 to 13
Norsingdhi 53 to 66
Chiiagong 17 to 28
Comilla 6 to 13

[HenryN]

Commentary at

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