Sunday, July 29, 2007

India : Deeply Troubling Bird Flu Outbreaks Far Worse Than Headlines Reveal

Are we getting the full story on the extent of the H5N1 outbreak in India? Some argue that we are not. But the level of damage and economic impact from the outbreak is rising rapidly.

Sri Lanka has just banned poultry imports from India, and Indian authorities are culling tens of thousands of birds, and shutting down markets, in a growing circle out from the confirmed point of outbreak in the Manipur district :

Hundreds of health workers will fan out in Manipur state to check on the health of some 450,000 people in and around the affected poultry farm in the village of Chingmeirong on the outskirts of Imphal, the state capital.

It plans to slaughter some 150,000 poultry in a 5 km (3 mile) radius around the affected farm.

Neighboring Bangladesh, Myanmar and Pakistan have also witnessed outbreaks of the H5N1 strain of bird flu this year.

India declared itself bird flu free last August.

From the Bird Flu News Flash :
The Bird-Flu outbreak in the North East state of Manipur is creating havoc with the lives of the residents of the state as the Government launches emergency measures to fight the H5N1 Virus.
Then follows a solid roundup of news on India's H5N1 outbreak.

Chicken, Egg Prices Tumble In India After Outbreak Confirmed

Mass Culling At India's Bird Flu Farm

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