India - Human Respiratory Track Infections

[Dutchy]

Dispur sounds health alert

- Assam lacks wherewithal to treat humans affected by avian flu, admits minister


Dec. 11: Dispur today sounded a grim warning over the probable spread of avian influenza to humans, saying the state was not equipped to handle such a health scenario.

The alert came in the wake of 82 cases of upper respiratory track infections in humans that were reported from six districts affected by bird flu. However, it was not yet confirmed whether these were bird flu-related cases.

An infection in the upper respiratory track is one of the symptoms of the disease in humans.

“If human beings are affected it would be a bigger disaster than floods or blasts,” health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told mediapersons here today.

He said that the health department could only handle 100 to 200 cases if the disease were to be transmitted to humans.

“Central teams under the regional director for health and family welfare are monitoring the situation in areas where the outbreak of the disease has been reported,” the minister said.

“The people are taking the matter very lightly without realising the consequences. There are allegations of chicken and ducks being kept away from culling.”

The minister urged the people to co-operate with veterinary officials as a precaution.

Sarma said culling operations were on in full swing with over three lakh poultry lined up for the purpose within the next few days. He said the figures were likely to go up after the outbreak in Dibrugarh and Chirang yesterday.

Barpeta, Kamrup (rural), Kamrup (metro) and Nalbari have already been affected by the flu.

Close to 2.5 lakh poultry has been culled so far. The ban on sale and movement of poultry and poultry-related products from affected areas has been imposed.

Culling operations will begin in Dibrugarh town tomorrow morning, two days after a case of avian flu was detected there.

Dibrugarh deputy commissioner Ashutosh Agnihotri said all necessary arrangements had been completed for the operations and rapid response teams were ready to carry out the drive.

The focal point in Dibrugarh town from where the bird flu case was detected as positive is ward number 6 under Dibrugarh Municipal Board. The 3km radius would cover the entire township, including Dibrugarh University and its adjoining areas.

The positive case was detected after poultry retailer Biswajeet Das from the Chiring Chapori area reported to the local veterinary department officials that around 120 of his birds had died all of a sudden on November 6.

“We had collected the samples of the dead birds and sent them for tests to the Bhopal-based High Security Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. Thereafter, we received a report from the laboratory confirming the case as positive”, a veterinary department official said.

To compound matters, shortage of trained veterinary staff slowed down the culling of birds at Khanapara in the capital city which began this morning after the bird flu outbreak was confirmed at a government-run chicken rearing farm there yesterday.

“We have engaged five culling teams overnight after bird flu was confirmed at Khanapara. The areas within 3km of the epicentre has been declared as alert zone or high risk zone where culling will be carried out,” a government official supervising the operations said.

The alert zone in the city comprises Jawahar Nagar, Beltola, Six Mile, Rukminigaon, Dispur, Ganeshguri, parts of Hatigaon and Panjabari, among others.

The official admitted that their efforts had been impeded by shortage of trained staff for culling in the city as most of them were engaged in similar operations in other affected areas of the state.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/108121...y_10240174.jsp

[HenryN]

Respiratory tract infection cases coming in
Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, Dec 11 – “The State Health Department is not fully equipped to meet a situation if the bird flu transmits to humans in a full-fledged manner. If it turns to be a disaster, we don’t have the facilities to face it,” said Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at a press conference here this morning.

“Once the disease transmits to humans in a full-fledged manner, then there will be a major disaster,” he warned and made an appeal to the poultry farmers not to take the phenomenon casually, expressing concern over the indifference shown to it by some farmers. The poultry farmers should cooperate with the Veterinary Department in tackling the situation, he urged.

Apprising the newspersons that reports of cases of upper respiratory tract infections (URI) have started coming, the Minister said it was a matter of concern. The URI cases have come to the knowledge of the authorities due to the surveillance undertaken by the ASHA and Health Department workers.

However, the Minister said, Central Government teams of doctors comprising physician, epidemiologist, microbiologists and public health experts, under the Regional Director of Health and Family Welfare, are stationed in the affected areas of Hajo, Rani and Rampur Development Blocks in Kamrup District and affected areas of Barpeta and Nalbari Districts. Teams for other affected areas are being readied. The situation is being monitored on a daily basis, he said.

Isolation facilities have been strengthened to admit and treat suspected cases and 10,000 capsules of Tamiflu, 6,000 surgical masks, 600 personal protective equipment, 200 N-95 masks and two ventilators have been supplied to the State by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, while additional logistics are also being mobilised, said the Minister.

The communication materials developed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the UNICEF in Assamese for both the print and electronic media have been sipplied to the State Government, he said.

Giving details of the URI cases found so far in the State, the Minister said that in the Hajo Development Block of Kamrup District, a human population of 23,473 in the 0-3 km radius area around the affected area, spreading over 25 villages, is under active surveillance. Of which, a population of 21,412 was covered under surveillance on December 10. In the 3-10 km radius area, out of 1,08,416 people, 32,929 have been covered.

Four cases of URI with fever were reported from the area, but no case of influenza like illness with history of contact with infected poultry has been detected in them. Moreover, five cases of URI have been identified in the out patient department of the identified hospital, but none of them has any history of exposure to sick or dead poultry, said the Minister.

In the Rampur Development Block of the district, a population of 39,830 has been covered in the 0-3 km radius area by active surveillance. A total of 30 cases of URI and fever have been detected. None of these has, however, a history of exposure to infected poultry. In the 3-10 km radius area, of the affected area of the block, active surveillance has covered a population of 18,916, he said.

While conducting the passive surveillance in the health facilities, 14 cases of URI and fever have been detected and none of them has any history of exposure to infected poultry, said the Minister.

In the Azara Development Block of Kamrup District, out of a total population 8,572 in 24 villages in the 0-3 km radius, a population of 7,222 has been covered. In the 3-10 km radius area around the affected part of the block, a population of 5,608 has been covered by the surveillance programme, the Minister said.

Two cases of fever and URI are identified in the 0-3 km radius area around the affected part of the block. In the 3-10 km radius area, six cases of fever with URI and fever have been identified. But none of them has any history of exposure to sick or dead birds. The identified hospitals of the block, have reported a total of 23 fever and URI cases. But none of them has any history of exposure to infected poultry.

In Barpeta District, out of the total population of 33,934 in the 0-3 km radius area from the affected area, a population of 6,032 have been surveyed and the surveillance in the 3-10 km radius area from the affected area is being initiated. So far, 60 cases of fever with URI have been detected in the 0-3 km radius area. None of them has, however, any history of exposure to the infected birds, the Minister said.

In Nalbari district, the surveillance programme has covered a population of 7,761, out of the total population of 34,627 in the 0-3 km radius area. One case of fever with URI has been detected in the 0-3 km radius area. However, the patient has no history of exposure to diseased birds, said the Minister.
http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/...d=dec1208/at07

[HenryN]

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12...arpeta_60.html

[AlaskaDenise]

Originally Posted by niman

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12...arpeta_60.html

Commentary

Sixty URI Patients In Barpeta India Raise H5N1 Concerns
Recombinomics Commentary 22:44
December 11, 2008

In Barpeta District, out of the total population of 33,934 in the 0-3 km radius area from the affected area, a population of 6,032 have been surveyed

So far, 60 cases of fever with URI have been detected in the 0-3 km radius area.

The above comments describe excessive upper respiratory infections with fever in the Barpeta district (see satellite map). Assam is setting up monitoring patients in the 0-3 km radius and 3-10 km radius around various epicenters of H5N1 infection. The update gives the number of people residing in the area, as well as how many have been surveyed.

The Barpeta district has 33,934 people, but only 6,032 were surveyed and 60 patients with symptoms were identified. In contrast, similar numbers for the target population were given for Nalbari (7,761/34,627), but only 1 patient with symptoms was identified. The smaller Azara block in the Kamrup district had 7,222 surveyed, and only 2 patients had symptoms.

Thus, the frequency of patients with symptoms is 30-60 fold higher in Barpeta than Azara or Nalbari, respectively.

These types of numbers are raising concerns that the region is not equipped to handle these patients, especially since less than 1/5 of the at risk population in Barpeta has been surveyed and Barpeta was one of the earliest outbreaks.

These numbers of symptomatic patients are cause for concern.


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[HenryN]

Dispur sounds health alert - Assam lacks wherewithal to treat humans affected by avian flu, admits minister

OUR BUREAU

Members of a rapid response team conduct culling operations at Khanapara in Guwahati on Thursday. Picture by Eastern Projections Dec. 11: Dispur today sounded a grim warning over the probable spread of avian influenza to humans, saying the state was not equipped to handle such a health scenario. The alert came in the wake of 82 cases of upper respiratory track infections in humans that were reported from six districts affected by bird flu. However, it was not yet confirmed whether these were bird flu-related cases. An infection in the upper respiratory track is one of the symptoms of the disease in humans. “If human beings are affected it would be a bigger disaster than floods or blasts,” health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told mediapersons here today. He said that the health department could only handle 100 to 200 cases if the disease were to be transmitted to humans. http://www.telegraphindia.com/108121...y_10240174.jsp

[HenryN]

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12..._Alert_82.html

[AlaskaDenise]

Originally Posted by niman

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12..._Alert_82.html

Commentary

82 Assam India Patients Produce H5N1 Health Alert
Recombinomics Commentary 00:34
December 12, 2008

Dispur today sounded a grim warning over the probable spread of avian influenza to humans, saying the state was not equipped to handle such a health scenario.

The alert came in the wake of 82 cases of upper respiratory track infections in humans that were reported from six districts affected by bird flu. However, it was not yet confirmed whether these were bird flu-related cases.

An infection in the upper respiratory track is one of the symptoms of the disease in humans.

“If human beings are affected it would be a bigger disaster than floods or blasts,” health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told mediapersons here today.

He said that the health department could only handle 100 to 200 cases if the disease were to be transmitted to humans.

The above comments are part of a health alert issued by Dispur in Assam, India. Sixty of the 82 cases described above are in Barpeta (see updated map), where the rate of infection is 30-60 fold greater than other affected areas. However, the higher rate may be due to the proximity of Barpeta to the initial outbreak, so cases in other regions may be lagging. Moreover, the number of cases in Barpeta may be significantly higher, because only 20% of the at risk population has been surveyed.

The H5N1 in Assam has spread rapidly to nine districts (see map), and so far only six have been confirmed, but those that have no been confirmed are adjacent to confirmed areas, and the confirmed outbreaks stretch from the northwest in Chirang in the northwest to Dibrugarh in the northeast in spite of culling 200,00 birds. In Diburgarh alone, 40,000 birds are expected to be culled by Saturday.

In addition, there are confirmed outbreaks in neighboring Bangaldesh, and suspected outbreaks in neighboring West Bengal.

However, the large number of symptomatic patients is alarming, and more information on tests of throat swabs would be useful. Last season most cases were not tested because they did not develop pneumonia and recovered.


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[Treyfish]

Bird flu could spread to humans in Assam, warns health minister




Guwahati, Dec 11: The Assam health department Thursday expressed serious fears about strains of the deadly bird flu virus spreading to humans and sparking a pandemic in the northeastern state.

"We are really worried about the bird flu virus spreading to humans as the strains transmit rapidly. We don't know for sure if at all our health department would be able to cope if such a thing happens," Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told journalists.

"We want the people of Assam to cooperate with the veterinary department so that the culling operations are carried out properly. Otherwise, we might face a disaster," he said.

The bird flu virus has spread across six Assam districts and authorities have claimed it has assumed an epidemic proportion.

More than 250,000 poultry birds have been culled in the past two weeks in Assam.

"Bird flu has struck six of the 27 districts in Assam so far with an estimated 150,000 more poultry ordered to be killed," a senior veterinary official said.

The districts hit by bird flu are Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup (Rural), Dibrugarh, Nalbari, Barpeta, and Chirang.

The poultry targeted includes ducks and chickens. Authorities have imposed a ban on sale of poultry and poultry products in most parts of Assam after the bird flu outbreak.

Culling is being carried out in 200 villages in the six Assam districts. About 400 Rapid Response Teams, each comprising about seven personnel, including a veterinarian, are engaged in the culling drive, which is expected to continue for about a week to 10 days until the entire area is cleaned of the estimated 150,000 poultry left, the official said.

"It is a matter of worry with the virus now spreading to new areas and hence a maximum health alert was sounded with teams of doctors and paramedics taking precautionary measures so that humans are not affected," Parthajyoti Gogoi, central health ministry official, said.

The Indian health ministry confirmed outbreak of bird flu after laboratory tests found strains of the deadly H5N1 avian influenza.

Assam's veterinary and animal husbandry department has sounded an alert and is maintaining strict surveillance on farms in the state with veterinarians carrying out checks on all poultry. A central health ministry team is also assisting the local authorities in the culling operations.

The World Health Organization fears that the H5N1 strain could mutate into a form easily transmitted between humans and spark a deadly pandemic.
--- IANShttp://www.newkerala.com/topstory-fullnews-59228.html

[AlaskaDenise]

300,000 people in bird flu-hit Assam under surveillance


Guwahati (IANS): Health authorities in Assam have placed under surveillance about 300,000 people in bird flu affected areas with reports of some 150 people suffering from fever and upper respiratory infections, fuelling fears of the deadly virus spreading to humans, officials said Friday.

"Isolation facilities have been strengthened to admit and treat suspect cases although no cases of influenza like illness with history of contact with infected poultry have been detected so far," Parthajyoti Gogoi, regional director (northeast) of the central health and family welfare department, told IANS.

"About 150 people were treated for fever and upper respiratory tract infections in bird flu hit areas. We have put the patients in isolation, although the symptoms do not indicate influenza like illness," he added.

The bird flu virus has spread across six Assam districts, with authorities claiming it has assumed an epidemic proportion. More than 250,000 poultry has been culled in the past two weeks in Assam and an estimated 150,000 more are ordered to be killed.

Health authorities have sounded a general alert fearing strains of the deadly bird flu virus spreading to humans and sparking a pandemic in the state.

"We are really worried about the bird flu virus spreading to humans as the strains transmit rapidly. We don't know for sure if our health department would be able to cope if such a thing happens," said Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

"We want the people of Assam to cooperate with the veterinary department so that the culling operations are carried out properly. Otherwise, we might face a disaster," he added.

The districts hit by bird flu are Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup (Rural), Dibrugarh, Nalbari, Barpeta and Chirang.

The poultry targeted includes ducks and chickens.

Authorities have imposed a ban on sale of poultry and poultry products in most parts of Assam after the bird flu outbreak.
"Additional logistics are being mobilised and we are monitoring the situation of a daily basis," Gogoi said.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus...0812121021.htm

[Laidback Al]

About 2003 three new districts were created in Assam by partially carving up existing districts in northwestern Assam. These three districts are Chirang, Baksa, and Udalguri. These district along with Kokrajhar are part of Bodoland Territorial Autonomous District that is spread along the north bank of the Brahmaputra river to the foothills of Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh. The approximate location of these districts is shown on the map below by the green boxes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodoland\

http://www.bodoland.net/

http://www.bodoland.org/history.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_districts_of_Assam

[Laidback Al]

Based on post #8, there are two separate areas in Assam State in northeastern India where there is concern for human cases of H5N1. These areas are depicted on the map below.

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus...0812121021.htm

300,000 people in bird flu-hit Assam under surveillance

Guwahati (IANS): Health authorities in Assam have placed under surveillance about 300,000 people in bird flu affected areas with reports of some 150 people suffering from fever and upper respiratory infections, fuelling fears of the deadly virus spreading to humans, officials said Friday.

"Isolation facilities have been strengthened to admit and treat suspect cases although no cases of influenza like illness with history of contact with infected poultry have been detected so far," Parthajyoti Gogoi, regional director (northeast) of the central health and family welfare department, told IANS.

"About 150 people were treated for fever and upper respiratory tract infections in bird flu hit areas. We have put the patients in isolation, although the symptoms do not indicate influenza like illness," he added.

The bird flu virus has spread across six Assam districts, with authorities claiming it has assumed an epidemic proportion. More than 250,000 poultry has been culled in the past two weeks in Assam and an estimated 150,000 more are ordered to be killed.

Health authorities have sounded a general alert fearing strains of the deadly bird flu virus spreading to humans and sparking a pandemic in the state.

"We are really worried about the bird flu virus spreading to humans as the strains transmit rapidly. We don't know for sure if our health department would be able to cope if such a thing happens," said Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

"We want the people of Assam to cooperate with the veterinary department so that the culling operations are carried out properly. Otherwise, we might face a disaster," he added.

The districts hit by bird flu are Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup (Rural), Dibrugarh, Nalbari, Barpeta and Chirang.

The poultry targeted includes ducks and chickens. Authorities have imposed a ban on sale of poultry and poultry products in most parts of Assam after the bird flu outbreak.

"Additional logistics are being mobilised and we are monitoring the situation of a daily basis," Gogoi said.

[HenryN]

Bird Flu could spread to humans in Assam,
Indo-Asian News Service
Guwahati, Dec. 11: The Assam health department today expressed serious fears about strains of the deadly Bird Flu virus spreading to humans and sparking a pandemic in the northeastern state.
"We are really worried about the Bird Flu virus spreading to humans as the strains transmit rapidly. We don't know for sure if at all our health department would be able to cope if such a thing happens," Assam health minister Mr Himanta Biswa Sarma told journalists.
"We want the people of Assam to cooperate with the veterinary department so that the culling operations are carried out properly. Otherwise, we might face a disaster," he said.
The Bird Flu virus has spread across six Assam districts and authorities have claimed it has assumed an epidemic proportion.
More than 250,000 poultry birds have been culled in the past two weeks in Assam.
"Bird Flu has struck six of the 27 districts in Assam so far with an estimated 150,000 more poultry ordered to be killed," a senior veterinary official said.
The districts hit by bird flu are Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup (Rural), Dibrugarh, Nalbari, Barpeta, and Chirang.
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.new...ss=1&id=235346

[Dutchy]

Fears of human bird flu cases rise in India's Assam

12 Dec 2008

Source: Reuters


By Biswajyoti Das

GUWAHATI, India, Dec 12 (Reuters) - India is sending bird flu experts to the northeastern state of Assam and setting up isolation units to treat up to 90 people showing signs of the virus, health authorities said on Friday.

Health workers have yet to confirm any human cases of H5N1, but they said some patients were suffering from fever and respiratory infections, which are symptoms of the virus in humans.

Veterinary officials in Assam state, which is rich in tea and oil, have slaughtered more than 250,000 chickens and ducks in the past two weeks, after the virus was detected in poultry last month in a village close to Guwahati, the region's main city.

New Delhi has rushed federal medical experts, including epidemiologists and microbiologists, to the affected areas.

"We have set up isolation facilities to treat those patients," Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam's health minister, said.

"So far none of the patients has a history of contact with infected poultry, but we are taking no chances. If the disease is transmitted to humans it will be a big disaster," Sarma said.

The medical teams brought supplies of equipment as a preventative measure in case the virus spreads to humans, including 10,000 Tamiflu capsules, 6,000 surgical masks and two ventilators.

Experts suspect the disease was carried by migratory birds who are immune to the virus.

Officials said poultry owners took advantage of a shortage of trained health workers and hid their stock to evade culling and seizure, further complicating the situation.

Another 150,000 chickens and ducks will be culled over the next two days, said a senior veterinary official in the state capital Dispur who did not want to be named.

While no human cases have been reported in India, experts fear the H5N1 virus might mutate or combine with the highly contagious seasonal influenza virus and spark a pandemic that could kill millions of people.

Since the virus resurfaced in Asia in 2003, it has killed more than 200 people in a dozen countries, the World Health Organisation says.

-------------------------------------------

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/DEL397954.htm

[HenryN]

3 lakh people in bird flu-hit Assam under watch
Assam have placed under surveillance about three lakh people in bird flu hit areas with reports of some 150 people suffering from initial symptoms

Published on 12/12/2008 12:56:27 PM


Guwahati: Health authorities in Assam have placed under surveillance about three lakh people in bird flu affected areas with reports of some 150 people suffering from fever and upper respiratory infections, fuelling fears of the deadly virus spreading to humans.

"Isolation facilities have been strengthened to admit and treat suspect cases although no cases of influenza like illness with history of contact with infected poultry have been detected so far," central Health and Family Welfare Department Regional Director (northeast) Parthajyoti Gogoi said.

"About 150 people were treated for fever and upper respiratory tract infections in bird flu hit areas. We have put the patients in isolation, although the symptoms do not indicate influenza like illness," he added.

The bird flu virus has spread across six Assam districts, with authorities claiming it has assumed an epidemic proportion. More than 2.5 lakh poultry has been culled in the past two weeks in Assam and an estimated 1.5 lakh more are ordered to be killed, reports IANS.

Health authorities have sounded a general alert fearing strains of the deadly bird flu virus spreading to humans and sparking a pandemic in the state.

"We are really worried about the bird flu virus spreading to humans as the strains transmit rapidly. We don't know for sure if our health department would be able to cope if such a thing happens," Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

"We want the people of Assam to cooperate with the veterinary department so that the culling operations are carried out properly. Otherwise, we might face a disaster," he added.

The districts hit by bird flu are Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup (Rural), Dibrugarh, Nalbari, Barpeta and Chirang.

The poultry targeted includes ducks and chickens. Authorities have imposed a ban on sale of poultry and poultry products in most parts of Assam after the bird flu outbreak.

"Additional logistics are being mobilised and we are monitoring the situation of a daily basis," Gogoi said.

http://www.igovernment.in/site/3-lak...m-under-watch/

[HenryN]

Health scare in Indian state as bird flu spreads

Agencne France-Presse

Friday, December 12, 2008

CREDIT: Reuters stringer photo

GUWAHATI, India - Medical workers were going door-to-door to look for people with symptoms of avian influenza in northeast India Friday as the infection in birds spread further, officials said.

So far, no human cases of infection of the deadly H5N1 virus have been reported in the affected Assam state, but authorities stepped up a health drive after 150 people developed some symptoms of the infection.

"About 150 people were treated for fever and upper respiratory tract infections in bird flu-hit areas. We have put the patients in isolation," senior health official Parthajyoti Gogoi told AFP.

Bird flu was ruled out in all cases, the official said.

The virus has spread in the past two weeks across six Assam districts, where an estimated 300,000 people live in the affected areas.

More than 250,000 poultry have been slaughtered so far and an estimated 150,000 more have been ordered to be killed.

The government was "worried" about the infection spreading to humans, as authorities may not be able to cope, local health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

The sale of poultry and poultry products has been banned in most parts of the state.

India reported its worst outbreak of bird flu early this year in the eastern state of West Bengal.

The WHO says the deadly H5N1 strain has killed nearly 250 people, mostly in Southeast Asia, since 2003.

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/wo...tml?id=1066877

[HenryN]

Three lakh birds culled in bird flu-hit Assam
12 Dec 2008, 2055 hrs IST, PTI

GUWAHATI: Nearly three lakh chicken have been culled and more than 3.5 lakh people are under surveillance in nine districts of the state affected by
bird flu.
Regional Director of Union Health and Welfare Department Parthajyoti Gogoi said that so far birdflu has not affected any person and 150 persons suffering from fever and upper respiratory infection (URI) in the affected districts were found not to have been infected by the virus.
However, the health authorities were keeping more than 3.5 lakh people in the nine districts under surveillance and four central teams of three doctors each were camping in the state to provide assistance to local doctors, he said.
The central teams are camping in Kamrup, Barpeta, Nalbari and Hajo in Kamrup(Rural) district.
The health workers have also been urged to cooperate with the veterinary workers involved in culling operation in the affected districts of Kamrup (Rural), Kamrup (Metro) including Guwahati, Barpeta, Nalbari, Chirang, Baksa, Dibrugarh, Goalpara and Bongaigaon.
There was adequate stock of Tamiflu, surgical masks, personal protection equipment, N-95 masks and ventilators which are being provided to members of the culling team, Gogoi added.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/T...ow/3829918.cms

[HenryN]

Health scare in Indian state as bird flu spreads

37 minutes ago
GUWAHATI, India (AFP) — Medical workers were going door-to-door to look for people with symptoms of avian influenza in northeast India Friday as the infection in birds spread further, officials said.
So far, no human cases of infection of the deadly H5N1 virus have been reported in the affected Assam state, but authorities stepped up a health drive after 150 people developed some symptoms of the infection.
"About 150 people were treated for fever and upper respiratory tract infections in bird flu-hit areas. We have put the patients in isolation," senior health official Parthajyoti Gogoi told AFP.
Bird flu was ruled out in all cases, the official said.
The virus has spread in the past two weeks across six Assam districts, where an estimated 300,000 people live in the affected areas.
More than 250,000 poultry have been slaughtered so far and an estimated 150,000 more have been ordered to be killed.
The government was "worried" about the infection spreading to humans, as authorities may not be able to cope, local health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
The sale of poultry and poultry products has been banned in most parts of the state.
India reported its worst outbreak of bird flu early this year in the eastern state of West Bengal.
The WHO says the deadly H5N1 strain has killed nearly 250 people, mostly in Southeast Asia, since 2003.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp...MG0X-YsrQkS_Xw

[HenryN]

Assam steps up flu surveillance
13 Dec 2008, 0239 hrs IST, Naresh Mitra & Rishu Kalantry, TNN

GUWAHATI/TINSUKIA: The Assam health department has stepped up surveillance on human beings in the bird flu-hit districts. Health officials said
about 300,000 people were under strict surveillance in the six districts where avian influenza was reported. National Rural Health Mission (Assam) director Partha Gogoi said no case of human infection has been reported so far.
Gogoi added that at least 150 people, who were found suffering from fever in the affected districts, were actually suffering from common cold. "We are keeping a close watch on the health of these people at places where bird flu has been detected. So far, no human infection has been reported. We are also ready with medical teams and necessary drugs in case any human infection is found,'' Gogoi said.
Sufficient quantity of Tamiflu, the drug that is used to treat avian influenza, has been stocked in adequate quantity to treat people if they get infected with bird flu. Five medical teams, comprising medicine specialists, epidemiologists and microbiologists, are monitoring the situation in the affected districts.
On Friday, culling operations continued at a government farm in the city's Khanapara area, Jalah in Kamrup district's Bejera area and ward no 6 in Dibrugarh. Altogether 1,343 fowls were culled by Rapid Response Team personnel at the Central Chicks Rearing farm of the veterinary and animal husbandry department in the Khanapara area on Thursday. Bird flu was confirmed in the government farm after 30 birds died there a few days ago.
Hours before the culling operations started in Dibrugarh, a Central official arrived here on Friday to oversee the process. According to sources, observer Dipankar Biswas, regional officer of the central veterinary department's eastern region, will prepare a report on the culling process. Culling started at the shop of Biswajit Roy in the town's Ward No 6. On Wednesday, the first case of bird flu was detected in this shop. Culling will be getting over in three to four days.
"On the first day, five teams of four members each were pressed into action. Several birds were culled by the end of the day,'' said R Das, district veterinary officer (Dibrugarh).
"Culling started in Chiring Sapori of Ward Number 6 and will be carried out within a radius of three km,'' Das said. "It is a door-to-door operation and will take three-four days to cull all birds in the marked area. A map has been prepared to facilitate members of the culling team. Members of these teams have also received the anti-virus injection to prevent any infection to them.''
"An estimated 40,000 birds, including ducks, are likely to be culled,'' Das added. Earlier, the Dibrugarh district administration had prohibited sale and import of poultry and poultry products to the district after detection of bird flu. A similar ban has been imposed in Tinsukia district.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/I...ow/3830075.cms

[Dutchy]

Bird flu out of control in Assam

UNI

Saturday, December 13th, 2008


GUWAHATI: Bird flu is out of control in Assam and the state has sent an urgent SOS to the Centre for help in terms of finance, technology and manpower to stop further spread of almost pandemic avian flu putting human beings to high risk of acquiring the virus.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi late on Friday night summoned an emergency meeting of his crack team of bureaucrats and reviewed the whole situation as almost the entire Brahmaputra valley was in the grip of the avian flu.

“It is getting very serious. We have gone all out but the way it was spreading, it will be very difficult to manage,” the Chief Minister said to his top bureaucrats, who were summoned to his residence to formulate a combat strategy.

Union Agriculture Secretary J Gopalkumaran has flown in to oversee the culling operation as the state machinery was racing against time to fight the disease.

More than 2.5 lakh chickens were already culled but it was decided at the meeting to cull the entire bird stock of the Brahmaputra valley to get rid of the crisis as the H5N1 virus was notorious to spread under 20 degrees Centigrade.

“With temperature continuing to be lower for the month or so, it has become more important to see that bird flu is stopped now” said state Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma, who also attended the crucial meeting.

The possibility of human infection in any of the North East states could also not be ruled out as the bird flu virus was reportedly brought in by migratory birds, which seek home all over the region.

The government had proved ill-equipped to check its further spread and is now alarmed at any possibility of human infection, with Dr Sharma admitting, “If it transmits to human beings, we don't have infrastructure to meet the crisis.”

So far more than 250 patients were treated for upper respiratory infection which has close symptoms like avian flu but fortunately none of them had been transmitted bird flu. Dr Sharma maintained that few patients could be treated but contamination would jump upwards fast and then the state would be faced with a great problem.

The Minister claimed that the state has stocked medicines for treating affected people but only in about 50 per cent cases, the patients respond to the medications.

As many as nine districts have been confirmed of the outbreak of bird flu, including Guwahati, with all other districts also highly exposed to the possibility of being affected.

“We are working hard but due to low temperature, it is spreading fast,” Veterinary department Director Dr A K Kotoky said.

The state has sought additional Rs three crore as compensation package to the owners of birds, which are to be culled.

Sale and export of poultry has already been banned, but imposition of ban was proving to be a problem due to low awareness level and casual attitude of consumers.

Price of red meat has skyrocketed as that of fish with fast-food business also severely hit.

“Local people are not cooperating with us and it will have a catastrophic effect, far more than any other calamity,” Mr Kotoky warned.

http://www.sakaaltimes.com/2008/12/1...ol-in-Ass.html

[Commonground]

We (treyfish and I) would like any help anyone can give, to translate this article. We have tried numerous ways, but cannot copy and paste, or use google translation.



http://www.assamiyakhabor.com/3rd.htm

http://www.assamiyakhabor.com/index.htm

[hawkeye]

I've pulled the Flash apart. All of the text is an image. I tried to use OCR on it, but I need a font with these characters. Probably the best route is to have someone read/translate the article.

I've extracted the source image and have attached it.

hope that helps.

Originally Posted by Commonground

We (treyfish and I) would like any help anyone can give, to translate this article. We have tried numerous ways, but cannot copy and paste, or use google translation.



http://www.assamiyakhabor.com/3rd.htm

http://www.assamiyakhabor.com/index.htm

[Treyfish]

Thanks, Hawkeye! Still trying!

[hawkeye]

Why are more medicine and equipment being shipped to "cope with the situation", when apparently no one is infected. *If* there is a situation, I hope they have more ventilators on the way.

Experts sent to India's Assam on bird flu scare
Sat Dec 13, 2008 3:12pm IST

GUWAHATI, India, Dec 13 (Reuters) - India rushed two more teams of bird flu experts to the northeastern state of Assam to step up surveillance after nearly 100 people showed signs of the virus, health officials said on Saturday.

Health workers have yet to confirm any human cases of H5N1, but they said patients in six districts were suffering from fever and respiratory infections, which are symptoms of the virus in humans.

"No human cases of H5N1 have been confirmed in the state. But we are on maximum alert," Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam's Health minister, said.

Three teams of federal medical experts, including epidemiologists and microbiologists, are keeping a close watch on humans in affected areas of the oil- and tea-producing state.

The medical teams brought supplies of equipment as a preventative measure in case the virus spreads to humans, including 10,000 Tamiflu capsules, 6,000 surgical masks and two ventilators.

"More medicines and equipment will reach here in the next two days to cope up with the situation," Sarma said.

Veterinary officials have slaughtered more than 300,000 chickens and ducks since late November, after the virus was detected in poultry last month in a village close to Guwahati, the region's main city.

More than 400 rapid response teams have been formed for culling operations in areas affected by the disease, which experts suspect was carried by migratory birds. Continued...

[ironorehopper]

Status Report on Avian Influenza in Assam (11.12.08) [GOVT OF INDIA - MIN. OF HEALTH]

Government of India - Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Status Report on Avian Influenza in Assam (11.12.08)

[Original text at LINK]

Department of Animal Husbandry had notified avian influenza in Block Gobardhana, Barpeta District and Block West Nalbari, Nalbari District (on 4.12.08) in Rani and Rampur block of Kamrup district (01.12.2008) and Hajo block of Kamrup district (27.11.08). Further outbreaks have been notified on 10.12.2008 in Block Sidli Chirang [District Chirang] and Bezera, Guwahati Municipality [District Kamrup] and Dibrugarh Municipality [District Dibrugarh].

A status update is as under:

* Central Teams are stationed in the blocks of Hajo; Rani and Rampur in Kamrup district; Barpeta and Nalbari districts where the outbreaks are notified.
* Teams for other affected areas of District Chirang and Dibrugarh have been constituted and are being deputed.

I. Kamrup district:

In the Hajo block of Kamrup district:
-- The total population of 23473 in 0-3 km area, spread over 25 villages is under active surveillance of which a population of 17,394 was covered under active surveillance on 10.12.2008 . In 3-10 km a population of 1,57,7896 have been covered.
-- Two cases of URI with fever were reported. No cases of Influenza like illness with history of contact with infected poultry have been detected in the community.
-- Four cases with Upper Respiratory Tract infection have been identified in the out patient Department of the identified hospital but none of them has any history of exposure to sick/dead poultry.
-- A total of 51,397 birds have been culled so far. Mopping up and sanitization operations have started in Hajo block by Department of Animal husbandry.
-- 31 animal health workers and 5 hospital staffs are on chemoprophylaxis.

- Rampur Blocks of Kamrup District.

-- A population of 34,825 has been covered in the 0-3 km area by active surveillance. A total of 8 cases of URI and fever have been detected. None of them had history of exposure to infected poultry.
-- In the 3-10 Km a population of 20,457 has been covered.
-- Passive surveillance is done in all health facilities. 70 cases of URI and fever have been detected and none of them has history of exposure to infected poultry.
-- So far a total of 1,91,069 birds have been culled.
-- 80 Animal health workers are on chemoprophylaxis.

- Azara/Rani Block of Kamrup District

-- Out of a total population of 8572 in 24 villages in 0-3 km radius, a population of 7326 has been covered. In 3-10 km area, a population of 12,203 have been covered.
-- Seven cases of fever and upper respiratory infections were identified in 0-3 km area. None of them had any history of exposure to sick or dead birds.
-- In the identified hospital a total of 19 fever and URI cases have reported. None of them had any exposure history to infected poultry.
-- So far, 7,202 birds have been culled.
-- 73 animal health workers are on chemoprophylaxis.

II. Barpeta district

-- In 0-3 km radius, a population of 7,926 have been surveyed and the surveillance in 3-10 km is being initiated.
-- 90 cases of fever with URI have been detected in the 0-3 km area. None of them had exposure history.
-- So far, 12,131 birds have been culled.
- 110 animal health workers have been put under Tamiflu Chemoprophylaxis.

III. Nalbari district

-- In 0-3 km radius, a population of 11,222 have been covered. In 3-10 km area Surveillance has been started and a population 3,679 have been covered.
-- Seven cases of fever with URI has been detected in the 0-3 km area and none had exposure history.
-- So far, 10,173 birds have been culled.
-- 101 animal health workers have been put under Tamiflu Chemoprophylaxis.

- Isolation facilities have been strengthened to admit and treat suspect cases.
- 10,000 capsules of Tamiflu, 6,000 surgical masks, 600 personal protective equipments, 200 N-95 masks and two ventilators have been supplied by MoHFW. Additional logistics of 5000 Tamiflu, 300 PPE, 100 N-95 masks and 3000 three layered surgical masks are being sent.
- Communication materials in Assamese (both print and media) developed by MOHFW and UNICEF, covering human and animal health has been provided to the state Government through the local UNICEF Office.

The situation is being monitored on a daily basis.
-
-----

[HenryN]

The 60 cases in Barpeta were alarming. Now it is 90 (and still only 20% of population has been surveyed).

[HenryN]

No report of bird flu in humans yet
Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, Dec 13 – The bird flu-related situation in the State is under control. But the State Government has been requested by the Central team of experts to expedite the process of poultry culling in the affected areas and to conduct such operations comprehensively. The State Government has also been requested to cordon off the affected areas. The Meghalaya Government has also been requested by the Central team of veterinary experts to undertake culling of poultry in its territory adjacent to Khanapara area of the city.

Reports of unusual death of poultry have also come from Chaulpara village in Akhoifuta area under Kheluwa Development Block of Sivasagar District, Naoboicha Development Block of Lakhimpur District, Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) Ward No 37 (Kharghuli area) of the city and Dolongpar village under Tamulput Development Block of Baksa District.

Samples of the birds from these places have been sent to the Bhopal-based High Security Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (HSADL) and Pune-based National Institute of Virology (NIV). 37 samples of birds from the wildlife sanctuaries of the State have also been sent to the above laboratories. Preventive culling of poultry were undertaken at Chaulpara village, Naoboicha and Kharghuli areas today. Altogether 93 Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) are conducting the culling operations in the State.

Five persons in Hajo Revenue Circle, 68 persons in Rampur Development Block and 23 in Azara Development Block who have been suffering from upper respiratory tract infection (URI), have been kept under active surveillance by the Health Department. However, no case of transmission of bird flu virus to humans has been reported from any part of the State so far.

The State Government has asked the Veterinary Department to set up an HSADL-like laboratory in the State and offered to bear the cost for the purpose.

N Gokul Ram, Secretary, Animal Husbandry, Veterinary and Dairy of the Union Agriculture Ministry said at a press conference here this morning that culling in five flu-infected locations of the State were completed. The deadline for completion of such operations in the other four affected locations was set to be December 16. Gokul Ram had led a three-member Central team on a two-day visit to the State for taking stock of the bird flu-related situation.

Meanwhile, State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma this afternoon reiterated at another press conference that the State Health Department does not have the required infrastructure to treat thousands of patients in the event of large-scale transmission of bird flu to humans. The MMC Hospital in the city has one isolation unit ready at present for treating patients with bird flu virus infection. The Central Government has supplied the State five ventilators on loan. Expeditious culling of the birds in the affected areas is hence to be resorted to for preventing such a disaster, the Minister said.

Dr AK Bandopadhaya, Commissioner, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary of Agriculture Ministry, who was also present in the morning press conference, told the newspersons that the source of infection and how the disease spread to newer areas remained to be confirmed. However, the transportation of poultry from the affected areas and the State’s porus border with Bangladesh might be the two reasons, among others, for the present developments, he said.

But he maintained that there was nothing exceptional in the way the disease spread in the State.

Gokul told the news persons that the loss incurred by the State might touch several crores of rupees, though an estimation is yet to be made to ascertain the exact amount. He also informed that the exact number of farmers affected by the phenomenon also remained to be ascertained.

Sarma told the news persons that the State Government would pay compensation at enhanced rates to the farmers, who had lost their poultry in the culling operations, with effect from November 29 last when the culling of poultry started in the State. Moreover, the Government will also bear the interest subsidy on the bank loans of such farmers and arrange for their re-employment under the Assam Vikas Yojana.

The Government would also pay Rs 10 per bird for a month to those poultry farmers living within the 3-10 km radius area of epicentres of the outbreak.

The Veterinary Department has 432 RRTs at present and the Chief Minister has directed the Department to raise it to 1,000. But this will take time, said the Minister.

The Minister also apprised the newspersons that till yesterday 3,17, 673 birds were culled, 1,60,995 eggs and 11,000 kgs of poultry feed were destroyed. It is estimated that during the culling operations 5,36,000 birds will be killed, the Minister said.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/...d=dec1408/at06

[Treyfish]

Berdfloo out of the situation in Assam

Dec 13, 03:15 pm

Guwahati
Berdfloo in the state of Assam is out. Given its magnitude, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi of the late Friday meeting with dignitaries and help from the central government Guahar did. His view of the order on Saturday Berdfloo State Haialrt has been declared. Two of the state and North Lakhimpur district of Sivasagar and also in the grip of Berdfloo has come. Meanwhile, drugs with the central team has reached here.
Here, the border districts of North Bengal in the wake of Berdfloo Brti vigilance is going. The Chief Minister of Health officials in the affected areas of special awareness campaign and has directed. Sivasagar and North Lakhimpur districts in Berdfloo outbreak after the number of affected districts has risen eleven.
Union Animal Husbandry Secretary Ann. Ram said gokul those two districts to examine the blood samples have been sent to Pune and Bhopal. Assam officials yesterday he considered the future strategy. Given the gravity of the situation reached the central area of the visiting team is different.
Medical experts with the center for investigation also has sent special equipment and medicines. The Center still ten thousand Tamiefloo capsule, six thousand two surgical masks and have sent ventilator. Experts think that migrants in Assam birds with the disease came because of the virus's spread. Assam in the cold as soon as millions of migratory birds come from Siberia. Assam's health minister, Dr. Sharma said that Himant world sick people in the affected areas to other people apart from keeping the treatment is being made. This case came to light here is that government compensation rate of rural low due to hide the chickens do. So in the affected areas to kill is incomplete. Despite the decline in Kamrup district on charges of selling chicken Wyhaprion six have been arrested. http://74.125.93.104/translate_c?hl=en&langpair=hi%7Cen&u=http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/news/national/general/5_1_5068303.html&prev=/translate_s%3Fhl%3Den%26q%3DKANPUR%252B%2BFEVER%25 2B%2BAUGUST%2B%2B2008%26sl%3Den%26tl%3Dhi&usg=ALkJrhiDJMXRvnmJ33kFyUdMGwPnwcSIkw

[HenryN]

The big jump in hospitalized cases is in Rampur, which now has 70 hospitalized

[Sally Furniss]

Translation from Arabic

New Delhi / Indian Health services have launched preventive measures to prevent the transmission of avian influenza virus among humans after the emergence of dozens of suspected human cases infected with the disease.
The Indian health authorities have sent experts to bird flu in Assam state in north-east of the country and sought to set up isolation units to deal with up to ninety people showed symptoms of infection with the disease.

Health officials would not confirm any post-infection (5, 1 HP) but said that some patients suffering from fever and respiratory infection symptoms of infection a human disease.

Veterinary officials in Assam tea and oil-rich executed more than 250 thousand chickens and ducks in the past two weeks after the discovery of the virus in poultry last month, a village close to Guwahati, the main city in the region.

The Minister of Health Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam for the establishment and isolation units to treat patients who have not yet been proven incapable of. He described the possibility of transmission of the disease among humans that would be a major catastrophe.

......

http://news.naseej.com/Detail.asp?In...sItemID=295151