Saturday, February 18, 2006
Avian influenza found in India
The Indian Government sent a team of experts to Maharashtra state where thousands of chickens have reportedly died from the H5N1 strain of avian influenza.
The Indian Agriculture Minister stated on Saturday, “We have sent an expert team to the site and are awaiting authentic information from laboratories,” after it was reported that at least 30,000 chickens had died from possible avian influenza infection in the Navapur village in Nandurbar district, about 186 miles (300 km) from Mumbai.
An Animal Health Commissioner in the western state first reported a very large number of poultry deaths in Navapur village to the Animal Husbandry Department here Feb 10.
Initial post-mortem analysis of two dead birds indicated that the cause of death could be a form of the avian influenza virus that has surfaced in seven countries.
According to animal husbandry department officials, the Animal Disease Laboratory in Bhopal is performing further tests to confirm the presence of the avian influenza virus.
“It seems like some kind of avian flu. Only the Bhopal laboratory report will confirm if it is the H5N1 strain of avian flu, which has been known to spread to human beings,” said Shyam Kumar, secretary of the Poultry Federation of India.
“But we are not worried as we have been having an emergency drill for the last several months together with government officials,” Kumar also stated.
“In case this turns out to be the H5N1 strain, the affected area would be cordoned off for up to 10 km and all the birds in and around the area would be vaccinated to prevent its spread,” said Kumar.
Indian health authorities are now actively watching for any other bird deaths that may be linked to avian influenza.