In West Bengal, the health department has assured the public that there have been no new cases of human avian influenza reported among those who had close contact with the two children infected with bird flu. Narayan Swarup Nigam, the principal secretary overseeing the health department, emphasized this during a statement to reporters at Swasthya Bhaban. He confirmed that as of now, there have been no fresh cases of avian influenza detected in individuals who were in proximity to the infected children.
Furthermore, Nigam highlighted that there has not been an increase in cases resembling influenza-like illness (ILI) across the state. He reassured the public that despite rigorous surveillance efforts, there have been no reports of bird flu among poultry birds either. Consequently, the health department has not imposed any restrictions on the consumption of chicken and eggs.
Vivek Kumar, additional chief secretary of the state’s animal resource and development (ARD) department, provided additional details, noting that 1,728 poultry bird samples were tested at ARD laboratories between April and May, with none testing positive for bird flu.
The bird flu scare in West Bengal arose following two reported cases of human infection involving avian influenza strains H5N1 and H9N2. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed only one case of human bird flu infection in a child, prompting heightened awareness and monitoring in the affected areas.
Overall, the health officials emphasized that there is currently no cause for alarm regarding the spread of avian influenza among humans or poultry in West Bengal, based on the results of extensive surveillance and testing efforts.
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