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UPDATED: Three additional districts have been mentioned as likely being affected by outbreaks this morning in media reports - bringing the total to 9.
Hat Tip Niman on Flutrackers for this article from ZEENEWS.com.
Bird flu may pose major threat if birds not culled: Minister
Guwahati, Dec 11: With the avian flu spreading to nine districts in Assam, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Thursday warned that the disease could become a major disaster for human beings if poultry are not allowed to be culled.
A year after devastating bird flu outbreaks began in West Bengal, an Indian state once again faces a rapidly spreading avian virus threat. In just two weeks the virus has turned up in 6 districts of Assam; Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup (Rural), Dibrugarh, Nalbari, Barpeta and Chirang.
Despite the headline below, I've seen no reports of suspected human infections in Assam. Health officials are rightfully worried, however, and continue to monitor the populace for signs of fever or illness.
Culling is reportedly underway or completed in nearly 200 villages, and approximately 250,000 birds have been destroyed. With new outbreaks being reported, that number is expected to rise considerably.
This from New Kerala.
Bird flu spreads rapidly in Assam; fears of human infection
Guwahati, Dec 11 : Bird flu virus has spread with alarming rapidity across Assam to reach upper Assam’s Dibrugarh district within 15 days after the virus was confirmed in lower Assam districts even as fears of human infection were aired by the state government.
The dreaded avian was yesterday confirmed in Khanapara Central Seed Rearing Farm of the Veterinary department here, Dibrugarh municipality area and Sidli block of Chirang district, with the virus now confirmed in six districts.
The H5N1 virus was first detected in Hajo area of Kamrup (rural) district in last week of November and it has since spread across Kamrup, rural as well as metro, districts, Nalbari, Barpeta, Chirang and Dibrugarh districts.
Culling operations were on in full swing, state Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sharma informed, with over 3 lakh poultry targeted to be culled, with the figure to go up after the outbreak in Khanapara, Dibrugarh and Chirang yesterday.
Close to 2.5 lakh poultry has been culled so far, with rapid response teams deputed for all affected areas and government monitoring the situation on a daily basis.
Ban on sale and movement of poultry and poultry-related products from affected areas has been imposed and all district administrations were asked to keel strict vigil, Dr Sharma said.
Fears of human infection has strengthened with the rapid spread of the virus and the government was going for a massive publicity drive, appealing the farmers to hand over their poultry for culling in all affected areas as well as urging people across the state to be alert for Upper Respiratory Infection syndromes, the main symptom of bird flu infection in humans.
The Health department is not completely equipped to handle a massive outbreak of the virus in humans.
If humans gets contaminated, it would be a worst disaster than floods or blasts, the Health minister said.
He said Tamilflu capsules were being stocked, but only about 50 per cent infected patients respond to the treatment.
Prevention is the best possible cure and we appeal for cooperation, he added.
Dr Sharma said several people with URI were examined in the affected areas but no cases of human contamination were detected.
--- UNI
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