Bird Flu detected in Savar Poultry
The chickens in Savar poultry farm that had been initially suspected to be suffering from Ranikhet disease (a local disease for the poultry) had been tested positive for the very deadly Avian Flu. The reason for the alarm is that this particular virus can affect human as well (even though known cases are relatively small) and due to the absence of a vaccine researchers have feared the disease might become pandemic.
From bdnews24.com
Avian influenza has been detected in a poultry farm in Savar, the government said in a statement Thursday. The government rushed a meeting where health adviser ASM Matiur Rahman and livestock adviser CS Karim broke the news that results of laboratory tests showed the deadly virus of H5N1 in chickens in the farm.
Some Facts about Bird Flu:
Bird Flu or avian influenza is caused by influenza A virus. Wild birds are the natural host for all known subtypes of influenza A viruses, but not affected by the viruses. However, domestic poultries are far more susceptible to these viruses. Most cases of avian influenza infection in humans are thought to have resulted from direct contact with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces. The strain of influenza A virus that attacks a human is a modified version or subtype of influenza A that attacks the chicken.
A sub type of flu virus A can be created through direct transmission from sick birds to human body or by genetic re-assortment between human influenza virus A and bird influenza virus A.
Human-to-human transmission of this particular virus strain has NEVER been reported. However, because influenza A viruses have the potential to change and gain the ability to spread easily between people, monitoring for human infection and person-to-person transmission is important.
Should we be freaking out yet
We should be concerned, but not freak out. The H5N1 strain of bird flu had been detected in birds only, not humans in Bangladesh.
A global influenza pandemic (worldwide spread) may ONLY occur if three conditions are met:
• A new subtype of influenza A virus is introduced into the human population.
• The virus causes serious illness in humans.
• The virus can spread easily from person to person in a sustained manner.
Although the conditions haven’t occured yet, it is advisable to stay away from sick looking poultry unless confirmed that it has not been infected with any form of the flu virus.
From the Center for Disease Control (CDC):
Symptoms of Avian Influenza in Humans
The reported symptoms of avian influenza in humans have ranged from typical influenza-like symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches) to eye infections (conjunctivitis), pneumonia, acute respiratory distress, viral pneumonia, and other severe and life-threatening complications.
Updates by WHO:
The World Health Organization (WHO) maintains situation updates and cumulative reports of human cases of avian influenza A (H5N1).
March 22nd, 2007 at 7:21 pm
1. Everyone should avoid direct contact with any kind of poultry back home.
2. Even though there is no evidence to suggest that transmission occurs through properly cooked poultry, maybe it is better to refrain from eating chicken, duck, and any other birds for a while.
March 22nd, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Shahed I’ll be cautious against creating undue panic about bird flu. Yes we need to remain vigilant, and follow WHO prescribed guidelines in dealing with sick poultry, but the last thing we want is a massive panic and chaos.
March 22nd, 2007 at 8:42 pm
This very related blog, While we run after Bird Flu…, was posted in unheard voices last year.
That post contains discussion on relative risk of Bird flu and other possibilities in Bangladesh.
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Rumi, not trying to create panic, just trying to raise awareness. Sorry, if my statement was a bit panicky.
First point is the general recommendation for avoidance of bird flu infection in human (WHO, CDC). Second one, is my personal opinion with a disclaimer that there is no evidence to date. But with the possibilities of emerging new strains of the virus and lack of complete scientific studies, I think it is better to be safe than sorry.
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:07 pm
To clarify any confusion, here are few FAQs from the WHO site:
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/avian_faqs/en/index.html
“What are the implications for human health?
The widespread persistence of H5N1 in poultry populations poses two main risks for human health.
The first is the risk of direct infection when the virus passes from poultry to humans, resulting in very severe disease. Of the few avian influenza viruses that have crossed the species barrier to infect humans, H5N1 has caused the largest number of cases of severe disease and death in humans. Unlike normal seasonal influenza, where infection causes only mild respiratory symptoms in most people, the disease caused by H5N1 follows an unusually aggressive clinical course, with rapid deterioration and high fatality. Primary viral pneumonia and multi-organ failure are common. In the present outbreak, more than half of those infected with the virus have died. Most cases have occurred in previously healthy children and young adults.
A second risk, of even greater concern, is that the virus – if given enough opportunities – will change into a form that is highly infectious for humans and spreads easily from person to person. Such a change could mark the start of a global outbreak (a pandemic).
How do people become infected?
Direct contact with infected poultry, or surfaces and objects contaminated by their faeces, is presently considered the main route of human infection. To date, most human cases have occurred in rural or periurban areas where many households keep small poultry flocks, which often roam freely, sometimes entering homes or sharing outdoor areas where children play. As infected birds shed large quantities of virus in their faeces, opportunities for exposure to infected droppings or to environments contaminated by the virus are abundant under such conditions. Moreover, because many households in Asia depend on poultry for income and food, many families sell or slaughter and consume birds when signs of illness appear in a flock, and this practice has proved difficult to change. Exposure is considered most likely during slaughter, defeathering, butchering, and preparation of poultry for cooking.
Is it safe to eat poultry and poultry products?
Yes, though certain precautions should be followed in countries currently experiencing outbreaks. In areas free of the disease, poultry and poultry products can be prepared and consumed as usual (following good hygienic practices and proper cooking), with no fear of acquiring infection with the H5N1 virus.
In areas experiencing outbreaks, poultry and poultry products can also be safely consumed provided these items are properly cooked and properly handled during food preparation. The H5N1 virus is sensitive to heat. Normal temperatures used for cooking (70oC in all parts of the food) will kill the virus. Consumers need to be sure that all parts of the poultry are fully cooked (no “pink” parts) and that eggs, too, are properly cooked (no “runny” yolks).
Consumers should also be aware of the risk of cross-contamination. Juices from raw poultry and poultry products should never be allowed, during food preparation, to touch or mix with items eaten raw. When handling raw poultry or raw poultry products, persons involved in food preparation should wash their hands thoroughly and clean and disinfect surfaces in contact with the poultry products Soap and hot water are sufficient for this purpose.
In areas experiencing outbreaks in poultry, raw eggs should not be used in foods that will not be further heat-treated as, for example by cooking or baking.
Avian influenza is not transmitted through cooked food. To date, no evidence indicates that anyone has become infected following the consumption of properly cooked poultry or poultry products, even when these foods were contaminated with the H5N1 virus.
Does the virus spread easily from birds to humans?
No. Though more than 100 human cases have occurred in the current outbreak, this is a small number compared with the huge number of birds affected and the numerous associated opportunities for human exposure, especially in areas where backyard flocks are common. It is not presently understood why some people, and not others, become infected following similar exposures.
What about the pandemic risk?
A pandemic can start when three conditions have been met: a new influenza virus subtype emerges; it infects humans, causing serious illness; and it spreads easily and sustainably among humans. The H5N1 virus amply meets the first two conditions: it is a new virus for humans (H5N1 viruses have never circulated widely among people), and it has infected more than 100 humans, killing over half of them. No one will have immunity should an H5N1-like pandemic virus emerge.
All prerequisites for the start of a pandemic have therefore been met save one: the establishment of efficient and sustained human-to-human transmission of the virus. The risk that the H5N1 virus will acquire this ability will persist as long as opportunities for human infections occur. These opportunities, in turn, will persist as long as the virus continues to circulate in birds, and this situation could endure for some years to come.
How serious is the current pandemic risk?
The risk of pandemic influenza is serious. With the H5N1 virus now firmly entrenched in large parts of Asia, the risk that more human cases will occur will persist. Each additional human case gives the virus an opportunity to improve its transmissibility in humans, and thus develop into a pandemic strain. The recent spread of the virus to poultry and wild birds in new areas further broadens opportunities for human cases to occur. While neither the timing nor the severity of the next pandemic can be predicted, the probability that a pandemic will occur has increased.”
March 23rd, 2007 at 4:01 am
Shahed and Rumi Bhai I guess you people are specialist on this thing? so please suggest your opionion to buy any chicken
from the local vendors. what ’s the pre caution?
March 23rd, 2007 at 7:27 am
So far the reaction of the government has been swift and efficient. Also, FAO, WHO, etc are involved in managing this problem. Finally, the poultry associations have also called for total transparency and efficiency in implementing international protocols relating to an outbreak.
The worldwide evidence is that countries that implement the WHO/OIE protocols swiftly manage to limit the spread of the disease. On the other hand, the countries that try to hide the problem or have poor co-ordination among various agencies make matters worse. Indonesia is an example where problems between the central and provincial governments have led to very poor progress in stemming the spread of the disease.
The early signs are that Bangladesh is managing things well. For example, the problem at Biman Poultry Complex surfaced in late February 2007. From the clinical symptoms the government suspected that it could be bird flu, and accordingly 30,000 birds were destroyed by March 6, 2007.
At 11 am yesterday, samples sent earlier to Thailand confirmed the presence of the H5N1. Within hours, as per OIE protocol, a perimeter with a 10-km radius with Biman Poultry at the centre was drawn up. There might be further culling as a precautionary measure; and a total restriction on poultry movement outside the perimeter has been imposed.
This is exactly the kind of vigilance that is required. Moreover, it is vital that all unusual mortality at farms must be reported to the Department of Livestock (DLS) for further investigation.
And Shahed, when WHO doesn’t ask people to stop eating poultry meat and eggs during an outbreak, why are you? For the record, the WHO/OIE manuals state that nobody has contracted the disease from eating poultry products.
Just use common sense. Don’t buy sick looking chickens. Cook the meat in the usual way. Don’t eat raw eggs. And if you are one of those who fret that the probability of getting hit by lightning is unacceptably high, then don’t have eggs sunny side up.
The risk is to farmers, not consumers. Our priority is to ensure that our farmers and farm employees are absolutely safe.
DISCLAIMER: I am President of the poultry Breeders’ Association of Bangladesh.
March 23rd, 2007 at 7:01 pm
The bird to human, and human to human transmission of bird flu virus is still under experiment. So far, transmissibility has been low from bird to human, and human to human transmission has been non-existent. So far all the outbreaks have been contained with minimal fatalities. It may seem that all the hypes about bird flu are false alarms and not based on solid grounds. But the reason it is still a huge concern for WHO and other health professionals is because the possibility of emergence of new virulent (highly pathogenic) strains and change in the transmissibility from bird to human. We need to be extra cautious to identify that change as early as possible; otherwise, we cannot expect to control this epidemic when it occurs. In the Bangladesh outbreak we don’t have enough information yet, except for the fact that H5N1 strains have been isolated.
WHO recommends practicing caution in eating poultry in the areas where outbreak occurred. In Bangladesh, eating poultry involves handling poultry and that means a lot of direct contact (“… Exposure is considered most likely during slaughter, defeathering, butchering, and preparation of poultry for cooking…”). We lack sufficient diagnostic and screening tools in our country (e.g. sending samples to Thailand) also, to identify human cases there is no active/sentinel surveillance in place. There is no reason to panic but there is every reason to be concerned.
March 24th, 2007 at 4:34 am
Dear Shahed and Rumi
I came across a rumour during last time it attacked our poultry. I heard it was a human created virus! May be unbelieveable. Do u have any idea?
March 24th, 2007 at 5:11 am
For All Whom It May Concern,
If you all are or not aware, that, there is something which does not come in light about, ‘ BIO WAREFARE’ practiced, delivered, directed to bring you ( including many countries / to resist development – positive influence / size even own citizens ) under their shoe, besides the scientific explanations that you all are making on Savar Bird Flue Crisis.
A simple practical example, a series of teams work in the remotest villages / part of our country and in some of the strategically /politically important areas under the agenda of ‘determining the feasibility, effectiveness of drugs under experimented by drug manufacturers of the 1st world countries by talented our good young people /students sponsored by, number one - ICDDRB (IT IS GOOD TO HELP POOR WITH ITS LOTS OF PROGRAMME, BUT…), NGOS and ………….
Are we considering this aspect besides addressing the Bird Flu problem as you all have refereed?
ALO
March 24th, 2007 at 9:44 am
Thank you, all, for the postings. Really learnt a lot within a few seconds.What do eat now?? We have fish with “Formalin”; vegetables and fruits injected and we hear about mad -cow disease; and now we have the avian flue.At local markets I am amazed at the unhygenic conditions and extremely surprised to see poor people purchasing stale fish/vegs or rotten meats.How do they survive????
I have tried in vain to explain to them the dangers but without any luck. To get protection from getting sick;here are a few tips:-
“Preacution is better than cure” should be foremost on your minds and I would suggest that you get the grocery yourself rather than depend on sending the servant for it.
Proper washing using luke warm water for vegs n fruits and hot water for chicken/beef/mutton/fish is recommended before you cook and or decide to store in refrigerator.Please do not forget to have all items checked daily and refrigerator cleaned and once a week really over-haul the inside of the refrigerator– stomache ailments often arise from over storage(foods get stale).
Grilled food is always safer (when you have further doubts)than cooked curry; preferring chiken Tikka to chicken curry though curry tastes better.
Water filters now available(but need to check the brand)should be used and water boiled and cooled then refiltered using a good net(available in stores) before pouring it in the filter.
Please train all the servants to follow these hygenic instructions and also have them periodically dewormed including your entire family and those possessing dogs should deworm them too. All servants should be instructed to use bacteria killing soaps to wash their hands,bathe and have clean clothes.
The kitchen area should be cleaned with fresh luke warm water mixed with dettol/savlon. All clothes used for cleaning cooking utensils and crockeries should be spotlessly clean;rewashed in boiling water and changed whenever necessary.
Hope this information will be useful. After all we got to eat to survive.
March 24th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
#9,
I don’t have any such information. I cannot comment on that.
March 24th, 2007 at 3:54 pm
According to adviser CS Karim: “There is no evidence of how the virus came to Bangladesh but 21 species of birds out of 240 that migrate to our country every year could have carried the virus.”
Source: http://www.bdnews24.com
March 24th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
My Dear Shahed,
Let us be clear in laymen that the migrated birds have carried the virus.
But, how? Do the birds have any access to chickens which are taken care inside well guarded poultry establishments?
Can we even hypothetically say, some of those birds got inside the chicken cabins of the poultry industries? Impossible. Then, what are the options remains, some of the birds had died around poultry industries and that may had spread the virus, can anybody say they have any knowledge of this option. Again hypothetically if we say, well one migrated bird died nearby, how it transmit the virus? By substances that may have access to those chickens, is it possible? Now, last thoughts, air, water. Where the hypothetical migrated bird died, is it possible that the contaminated water is fed to the chicken taking risk of their lives (a great loss), now only one thing I have little knowledge, that air can carry the virus, I do not know it (I think it can not).
So, what rest options remains? Food that are fed to them. Which company produces and of which countries (the ingredients imported even, if these foods are produced in the country)? Are those tested before those were marketed? And, samples of each substances?
If you find that all the answers are coming positive, even negative (partially), even please have a check what I posted before, something call ‘Bio Warfare’ in any search engine.
ALO
March 25th, 2007 at 1:05 am
ALO,
One possibility of transmission into the poultry farms — H5N1 (and other bird flu) virus(es) can be transmitted via bird droppings. If you have infected, migratory birds (who may not necessarily die — infected ducks, for instance, normally do not die from H5N1) and they leave a lot of droppings in an area which get mixed up in soil, etc. … and then poultry farm workers walk through the contaminated soil … they may carry the virus into what seems like a very sealed poultry farm.
Alternatively, already infected chicks and/or adult chickens may have been brought to the farm(s) from somewhere else. The poultry trade is a very busy one, apparently!
Also, regarding becoming sick/infected via eating infected poultry — there’s no evidence for sure one way or the other — but I would advise everyone to be very, very careful when preparing poultry products.
Wash hand thoroughly with soap and warm (hot) water if slaughtering/plucking/preparing any poultry — wash all tools and surfaces used in the process (eg. do not reuse a knife or whatever that’s been used to butcher a chicken without washing it first). Wash hands, too, when handling eggs as H5N1 can be transmitted in bird droppings. Cook all poultry and eggs thoroughly (make the eggs hard-boiled, for instance).
Keep children away from poultry products. There have been plenty of children who have gotten sick and died from H5N1 when helping to pluck birds or slaughter them. Or when taking care of poultry kept at home.
Best wishes — I hope the outbreak in Bangladesh is brought under control as quickly as possible!
Cheers,
Theresa
March 25th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
Just a stroke of luck maybe that this outbreak happens to be in a more ethically reliable govt than we had in the past.
Although BD has experience in managing other recent disease outbreaks like Dengue (west nile virus), if not managed with german efficiency this situation has a more serious potential of getting out of hand.
Proper human handling, severe precautions, hygiene and complete destruction of suspected poultry will be the challenge.
Proper control of imports, like control of formalin fish - and control of smuggling, imports, testing and regulations, again comes to focus.
Import form bird-flu affected countries like India or Thailand may need to be controlled or banned.
March 26th, 2007 at 3:59 pm
KGazi, I want to point out that WNV and the virus that causes Dengue are different, both carried by mosquito though.
Meanwhile more bad news on the bird flu front. Three farms in Jamalpur (DS report) have been tested positive for H5N1. What’s worse is that 9000 birds from these farms have been sold to consumers already.
Let’s hope they will follow proper hygiene (the feces of the sick bird has been known to spread the germs), and cook the birds on high heat for a long time before savoring the curry.
March 26th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
Most important is using personal protective clothing/barrier (using gloves, masks)and using the highest precautions during handling/preparing (including slaughtering) the poultry for eating.
March 26th, 2007 at 4:17 pm
You are right Shahed. Here are some tips that were published in today’s DS:
For poultry caretakers and handlers of chickens and other birds:
· Avoid contact of poultry with wild birds, in particular waterfowl
· Control human traffic into poultries
· Practice proper hand washing and cleaning and disinfection procedures in poultries
· Report to authorities any unusual death or illness of chickens and other birds
· Report to authorities any illness among the workers in poultry farms
For the general public:
· Thoroughly wash hands with soap and water before and after handling chicken meat
· Clean kitchen surfaces and utensils before and after use
· Cook chicken well by seeing to it that the boiling temperature is reached
· Do not sell live chickens in the market while there is a threat of bird flu.
· Do not let chickens roam freely. Keep them in cages or pens.
· Do not place chickens, ducks and pigs together in one area, cage or pen.
· Do not catch, get near or keep in captivity wild birds.
· Report to authorities any unusual death or illness of chickens and other birds
· Report to authorities any case of respiratory illness with history of exposure to sick or dead chickens and other birds
March 26th, 2007 at 9:28 pm
Zafa,
I am seriously wondering now whether its just a coincidence that this govt suddenly discovers Formalined-fish and Bird-flu BOTH within a month, or whether Bird-Flu already existed in BD ( as in Thailand and India. years ago), but didn’t get reported in BD – or simply got covered up in BD as the other milder local variety of Ranikhet disease.
Remember Last year there was a drive against hawkers selling sick poultry to restaurants at low price? And now with Jamalpur discovery – they should test nationwide now.
Scary thought but how much of DS tips can be applied in BD?
Heres the catch-22 tip I thought:
[[ • Do not sell live chickens in the market while there is a threat of bird flu. ]]
Does that mean selling and consumption of chickens must (and can be?) stopped?
March 27th, 2007 at 1:56 am
KGazi
I doubt there is anything hidden behind the current bird flu incidents in Dhaka.
Bird flu apparently has all along been here in sporadic form. However, with aggressive screening and detection methodology, there will always be one or two bird flu here or there.
The laudable part of it is that authorities in Bangladesh has aproached the whole debacle in a text book manner, line by line, as prescribed by WHO guidelines.
Bangladesh, heavily dependent on WHo/FAo for it’s own healthcare and agriculture sector, can’t afford to defy WHO instructions.
March 27th, 2007 at 3:28 am
One thing I am worried about is the extent of the spread during the current outbreak. Looks like N’Ganj and Jamalpur Sharishabari area is also affected. One of those two places mentioned that they had bought some poultry from a Savar farm seven months ago. The epidemic may have started some time ago. The govt. is doing all it can, but there is no way to track down all the supplies to the local markets and other farms through out the country. The govt. efforts may fall short. We need mass awareness on identification of sick poultry, mass screening, immediate response to take care of affected flocks, and active surveillance to watch out for human cases.
The poultry industry will be hit hard. I have seen a picture where the farm workers were crying while killing the birds. Apart from the fact that they were their livelihoods, I guess they were quite attached to the chickens (But could not help noticing that they were not wearing face masks). Quite a sad affair altogether.
The source of this epidemic could be migratory birds but may also be one of the SE asian countries, particularly Thailand, where bird flu is endemic. As far as I know, there are some sort of poultry trades between Bangladesh and Thailand. I am not sure though, just guessing.
March 27th, 2007 at 3:57 am
Yes, very sad indeed. We didn’t need this, not now, not ever.
The govt promised compensation to poultry farmers. There had been applications filed already - each in huge amount of money. Now the task will be to authenticate the claims.
Kodos to the authorities for doing everything in their power to follow proper rules in crisis like this.
March 27th, 2007 at 6:24 am
Just one more crisis for authorities to manage - amid many neglected services from decades past.
India’s advances on Bird-Flu:
“Developing vaccines in tomatoes would allow vaccines to be fed to birds rather than injected… We just harvest the fruit, freeze-dry it and there’s your vaccine… That would be a lot easier than giving injections — especially for a flock of 5,000 chickens,” she said.
http://www.bodyofwealth.com/entry/new-bird-flu-vaccine-from-tomato/
India’s first bird flu vaccine-
http://story.japanherald.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/a1e025da3c02ca7c/id/233313/cs/1/
Battle against Bird Flu-
http://oheraldo.in/node/11519
March 27th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
[...] story KGazi and posted with Elliott [...]
March 27th, 2007 at 9:56 pm
[...] story Comment on Bird Flu detected in Savar Poultry by KGazi - Bird Flu Protection, Avian Flu News and posted with Elliott [...]