Domestic ducks and poultry found carrying viruses in the state
PUNE:
Even as migratory birds were found to be clean, the domestic ducks and
poultry are carrying avian influenza (AI) virus in West Bengal,
according to a study by National Institute of Virology (NIV) and Ela
Foundation, Pune.
The study has shown
that the AI viruses affecting the poultry in West Bengal and North
Eastern states are circulating locally, and not coming from outside. It
was undertaken in view of repeated outbreaks of the virus among the
poultry in the country since 2006,
"We
collected a large number of samples of domestic ducks and poultry from
areas in West Bengal where the AI outbreak was reported,” said Director
of NIV, AC Mishra told Sakal Times.
“Many
samples of the ducks were found carrying influenza virus H4N6 and
anti-bodies against H5N1 virus have been found. H9N2 was found in
poultry," said Mishra.
This showed the
probable role of domestic ducks and poultry in the transmission of the
avian influenza virus. Simultaneously, a limited sample collected from
migratory birds were found to be not infected.
The
study titled 'Avian influenza surveillance reveals presence of low
pathogenic avian influenza viruses in poultry during 2009-2011 in the
West Bengal State' has been jointly authored by Shailesh D Pawar,
Sandeep D Kale, Amol S Rawankar, Santosh S Koratkar, Chandrashekhar G
Raut, Jayati Mullick and AC Mishra from NIV along with Satish A Pande
from Ela Foundation.
The study has been published in the Virology
Journal.
"Human infections of H9N2
have been reported from China and Egypt and limited presence was found
among Pune poultry workers. This necessitates implementation of
prevention and control measures to limit the spread of AI viruses,"
Mishra said.
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