Fresh avian-influenza cases likely in Malda district

Though the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has asserted no further outbreak of bird flu cases in West Bengal but some fresh reports are coming of new avian-influenza cases death in the Malda district of state.

The district authority has sent blood and stool samples of birds to Bhopal laboratory and the reports are awaited.

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If the latest report tested positive with the confirmation of H5N1 virus then the administration needs to be more vigilant.

Meanwhile as per the press release of the ministry, active surveillance has been done so far in Jiaganj and Raghunathganj areas covering a population of 53158 ranging 0 to 3 Km areas. Though some cases of fever/URI have been accounted but no poultry infection has been detected so far.

Furthermore the culling activity in Murshidabad district has been completed with the help of 63 Animal Husbandry workers. They are also under medical supervision for detection of any possible infection while involved in culling activities.

Earlier hundreds of poultry deaths were confirmed due to H5N1 virus in two blocks of Murshidabad district. Death of chickens was also reported at the state run poultry farm.

The Jangipur Sub-divisional hospital has been identified for Raghunathganj-II with isolation facilities. For Jiaganj a new isolation facility has been created in Jiaganj Rural Hospital. Here 39 fever/URI cases have reported but none of them had any exposure history to infected poultry.

The state and district authority also affirmed the availability of Oseltamivir, anti-viral drug along with adequate personal protective equipments for culling workers.

The state authority is continuously monitoring the situation and a fresh ban may come into effect on selling of chickens in the affected region very soon.