India struggles to contain its worst avian epidemic

Channel NewsAsia 7 Feb 08;

NEW DELHI: India is struggling to contain its worst avian epidemic which broke out in January in the state of West Bengal that borders Bangladesh.

Three and a half million birds have been culled in the 5-kilometre zone where the avian influenza broke out in the second week of January in the eastern Indian state of Western Bengal.

At least a million more will be culled in the days to come.

Culling of infected poultry is also taking place in the states adjoining West Bengal as many farmers had illegally exported the birds out of the borders to sell them in the open market.

Dr Jai P Narain, communicable diseases director for World Health Organisation’s South-east Asia regional office, said: "I think the response of the government of India has been rapid and also to the scale that is required.

“And you can see the impact of these operations also. The outbreak is coming under control now. There are fewer number of deaths among poultry and no human cases have happened so far," he added.

Central health officers said about 2.7 million people in West Bengal were under surveillance.

All the 25 samples collected from those suspected to have come in contact with infected birds have been found negative.

Surya Kanta Mishra, West Bengal State’s Health Minister, said: "Within the 3 to 10 kilometre range, we have been conducting house to house surveillance, particularly on those above 18 years of age. The survey is done twice a week. The blood samples tested were negative for bird flu."

Chicken prices in cities like New Delhi, which does not get any poultry from the affected area, is down by 50 per cent.

Restaurants still have chicken preparations on the menu though some prefer to avoid eating chicken till they are sure that the flu hasn't spread.

The epidemic is a blow to India's fast growing US$4 billion poultry industry, which employs three million people.

India's share of world poultry exports is small but has grown 30 fold over the past 15 years. -CNA/vm