January 16, 2008

India confirms H5N1 bird flu outbreak, 400,000 chickens to be culled

The Indian government confirmed on Tuesday (January 15, 2008) that the latest outbreak of bird flu in poultry in the country's east was of the fatal H5N1 strain.

About 400,000 chickens within affected areas would be culled on Wednesday.

It is the fourth outbreak of H5N1 in Indian poultry since 2006, and the federal Health authorities have sent teams to affected areas to monitor people for bird flu symptoms.

Awareness of H5N1's risks is low, as a Reuters photographer witnessed villagers carrying dead chickens with bare hands. Children played with dead poultry, and even health workers were seen burying dead birds without any protective gear.

Federal Health Secretary Naresh Dayal said anyone with bird flu symptoms would be quarantined, and that the government had sufficient stock of antiviral drug Tamiflu.

About 300 health workers in protective gear are checking on villagers for signs of infection. The bird flu has killed more than 200 people worldwide since 2003, although India has not reported any infection so far.

In 2006, there were three separate outbreaks of H5N1 bird flu disease. In each of these cases, poultry farms were greatly affected, and tens of thousands of birds were culled.