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AVIAN INFLUENZA, HUMAN (60): INDIA (WEST BENGAL), SUSPECTED
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A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Sun 3 Aug 2008
Source: NaturalNews.com [edited]
<http://www.naturalnews.com/023772.html>


The eastern [Indian] state of West Bengal is currently undergoing its
3rd outbreak of bird flu since 2006, and more than 100 000 birds have
already died from the disease. In an attempt to contain the outbreak,
the government has ordered 2 million ducks and chickens killed.
According to the animal resources minister for West Bengal, Anisur
Rahaman, the state is "determined to cull all poultry in the
districts in 3 or 4 days, otherwise the state will face a disaster."

Five people experiencing clinical symptoms of bird flu, including
cough, fever, muscle ache and sore throat, have been quarantined and
are undergoing tests. Health officials are also analyzing blood
samples from another 150 people who reported fever symptoms. Bird flu
does not spread easily to humans, and most cases arise in people
who've come into close contact with infected poultry. But health
experts worry that if not contained, the disease could mutate into a
more dangerous form.

Authorities' efforts to cull poultry in West Bengal have been
hampered by a lack of local cooperation, with villagers smuggling
birds out of cull zones and selling them. The sudden glut of smuggled
birds on the market has caused the price of chicken to fall from 60
rupees [USD 1.50] per kilogram to 20 [USD 0.50]. "Poor villagers are
feasting on chicken. At normal times, they cannot afford to buy, as
prices are so high. Now they are enjoying the meat," said Sheikh Ali,
a market vendor.

Experts in neighboring Bangladesh warned that their government is
suppressing news of the current outbreak. "Bird flu is now
everywhere," said M. M. Khan of the Bangladesh Poultry Association.
"Every day we have reports of birds dying in farms. Things are now
very, very serious, and public health is under danger. The government
is trying to suppress the whole scenario."

[Byline: David Gutierre]

--
Communicated by:
Nati Elkin <nati@poultrymed.com>

[Previous reports of suspected human cases of avian (H5N1) influenza
have failed to be confirmed (see the ProMED-mail references below).
In the current situation, the signs and symptoms described in the
above report are not sufficiently specific to exclude seasonal
influenza or, indeed, any other febrile condition. Nonetheless, the
extent of the outbreaks in domestic poultry in West Bengal and
adjacent parts of Bangladesh indicate that the risk of human cases of
avian influenza virus infection is real. Further information is
awaited.

The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of India showing the
location of the eastern state of West Bengal can be accessed at:
<http://healthmap.org/promed?v=22.9,79.6,5>.
- Mod.CP]

AVIAN INFLUENZA (59): INDIA (WEST BENGAL), SUSPECTED, REQUEST FOR
INFORMATION
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A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Tue 20 Sep 2011
Source: NDTV [edited]
<http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/bird ... home-india>


Authorities in eastern India will start culling chickens and
destroying eggs to contain a new outbreak of H5 bird flu, the
government said in a statement on Tuesday [20 Sep 2011], as a mutant
strain of the virus is spreading elsewhere in Asia.

Surveillance was stepped up in West Bengal, a state severely hit by
bird flu outbreaks in the past.

The federal government is pushing local authorities to ban the
movement of poultry and its products and restricting access to the
affected area after samples tested positive for H5, a government
statement said.

"It has been decided to immediately commence the culling of birds and
destruction of eggs and feed material to control further spread of the
disease," it said.

Last month [August 2011], the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation
(FAO) warned of a possible resurgence of bird flu and said a mutant
strain of the H5N1 virus was spreading in Asia and beyond. It was not
immediately clear whether the latest outbreak in India was related to
the new Asian strain.

Virologists warn there is no vaccine against the H5N1 strain recently
found in China and Viet Nam that could potentially carry risks for
humans and called for closer monitoring of the disease in poultry and
wild birds to stop it from spreading [see comment].

Bird flu 1st broke out in India in 2006, and millions of chickens and
ducks have been culled since then to contain the virus, but it has
resurfaced from time to time.

India did not give further details about the exact strain of flu found
in the latest outbreak in West Bengal.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>

[Though the causative agent is likely to be H5N1, final confirmation
is anticipated. It will also be of interest to note whether the
isolate is similar to older Indian isolates or a new strain such as
H5N1 mutant clade 2.3.2.1. (archived post 20110829.2654).

According to OIE's information (archived post 20110901.2678), the OIE
Reference Laboratory in Harbin, China has already developed a new
vaccine seed strain that experimentally protects poultry from this new
virus clade. This vaccine, once available for field use, will be used
in countries where H5N1 virus clade 2.3.2.1 has been identified.
Registration and manufacturing of a poultry vaccine with the new seed
strain is in progress. - Mod.AS]

Avian influenza - situation in China - update 6
05.01.2012 - WHO

The Ministry of Health of China has notified WHO of a human case of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus infection.‪

The case is a 39-year-old male from Shenzhen, Guangdong Province. He developed symptoms on 21 December 2011 and was admitted to hospital on 25 December 2011. He was in critical condition and died on 31 December 2011. The case was laboratory diagnosed by Guangdong CDC on 30 December 2011 and confirmed by China CDC on 31 December 2011. Investigation into the source of infection is ongoing. Close contacts of the case are being monitored and to date all remain well.

Of the 41 cases confirmed to date in China, 27 have been fatal.

Gruß
Birgitt

China - Vogelgrippe
03.01.2012

Seit 2003 hat die hochpathogene Vogelgrippe durch Influenza A(H5N1) – mit einer 15-monatigen Pause vom Frühjahr 2004 bis zum Herbst 2005 – in diversen Landesteilen immer wieder zu örtlichen oder regionalen Ausbrüchen bei Wildvögeln und Nutztieren geführt. Insgesamt wurden in China bisher 41 menschliche Erkrankungen und 26 Todesfälle gemeldet. Alle Erkrankungen traten isoliert in unterschiedlichen Provinzen auf. Nach einer 18-monatigen Pause gab es nun wieder im Dezember eine bestätigte Infektion bei einem 39-jährigen Mann, der in der Nähe von Hong Kong lebt. Bei der Mehrzahl der Patienten konnte Kontakt zu Geflügel nachgewiesen werden. / Quelle: crm

Gruß
Birgitt