There is no threat of an avian influenza outbreak in Bengal and therefore, no restrictions on consumption of eggs, chickens and other poultry products, the state’s health secretary said on Thursday.
Narayan Swaroop Nigam, the state health secretary, said two sub-types of avian influenza (H9N2 and H5N1) were detected recently in swab samples of two patients.
“There have been a couple of cases where some history of the avian influenza virus ...have been detected. As such we have done a very active surveillance among the people who are contacts of these patients as well as among the poultry birds and other birds nearby. There is no fresh incidence of any transmission of human-to-human or bird-to-human noticed,” Nigam said at Swasthya Bhavan.
“There is no threat of avian influenza in the state. There is no advisory regarding the non-consumption of poultry products. Chickens and eggs can be consumed as they were consumed yesterday.”
On Thursday, a state health department team went to Malda’s Kaliachak for surveillance after a four-year-old boy was detected with avian influenza A (H9N2) virus infection a few months back.
Nigam said they did not get any adverse reports from the team.
“The senior joint director of health services is in Malda. I have spoken to him. There is no case of human-to-human transmission there...,” said Nigam.
An official of the animal resources development department said the announcement of not issuing any restriction on the consumption of poultry products was because if people stopped consuming these products being driven by an “unsubstantiated fear”, this could affect the livelihoods of those associated with growing and selling poultry products.
“This could lead to another form of crisis. So, we have repeatedly made it clear in the press conference that there is no advisory on non-consumption of poultry products,” the official said.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday issued an alert citing India’s second notified case of avian influenza A of sub-type H9N2.
When the health secretary was asked whether WHO has issued any advisory, Nigam said: “Except for the statement which has been issued, WHO has not issued anything further. I have spoken to the WHO yesterday.”
Thursday’s news conference was also addressed by Vivek Kumar, the additional chief secretary (additional charge) of the animal resources development department.
“In our state, we have an exhaustive mechanism for surveillance of avian influenza. We have got an advanced laboratory which is, the Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals in Belgachia to carry out this exercise,” he said.
“Throughout the year this institute collects 30,000 samples for surveillance of avian influenza. Out of this in April, May and June, they have already analysed 1,728 samples. We have not received any report of avian influenza from this sample,” said Kumar.
