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{{More citations needed|date=October 2008}}
{{flu}}
The '''2008 bird flu outbreak in West Bengal''' is an occurrence of [[avian influenza]] in [[West Bengal]], [[India]] that began on January 16, 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title=H5N1 strikes poultry in India again |url=https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2008/01/h5n1-strikes-poultry-india-again |website=CIDRAP |access-date=12 June 2021 |language=en}}</ref> The infection was caused by the [[H5N1]] subtype of the [[Influenzavirus A|Influenza A]] virus and occurred in at least thirteen districts, including [[Birbhum]], [[Nadia district|Nadia]], [[Murshidabad]], [[Burdwan]], [[Hugli-Chinsura|Hooghly]], [[Cooch Behar]], [[Malda district|Malda]], [[Bankura]], [[Purulia]], [[Howrah]], [[West Midnapore]], [[South 24 Parganas]] and [[South Dinajpur]] and several new inclusion are reported daily. A range of precautions has been instituted including a large cull of [[chicken]]s, [[Egg (biology)|eggs]], and poultry birds, the imposition of segregation zones, and a disinfection programme for the plant. The government had put a blanket ban on the movement of poultry birds from West Bengal.
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==Causes==
Immediate causes are not determined, but a high poultry density followed by a moist cold climate had led to the quick spread of the virus. With the highest population density in India, West Bengal had a high risk of the deadly virus spreading to humans.
As per other accounts, bird flu had spread to half of the state due to delayed action, bad planning and mismanagement by Government of West Bengal. In many villages, people led by ruling party leaders resisted culling operations.[https://web.archive.org/web/20081120173817/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/How-West-Bengal-allowed-bird-flu-to-fly/264990/]. Agriculture Minister [[Sharad Pawar]] had slammed the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] government for not reporting the bird flu epidemic early on.[http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080039165&ch=1/23/2008%2011:20:00%20PM] Shortage of staff for culling operation is one of the other reasons.

==Spread==
At least eleven districts of West Bengal, including [[Birbhum]], [[Nadia district|Nadia]], [[Murshidabad]], [[Burdwan]], [[Hugli-Chinsura|Hooghly]], [[Cooch Behar]], [[Malda district|Malda]], [[Bankura]], [[Purulia]], [[Howrah]], [[West Midnapore]], [[South 24 Parganas]] and [[South Dinajpur]] were affected by bird flu.

{| class="wikitable" align="center"
|+ Timeline of Spread
|- style="background: #DDFFDD;"
! District
! Date of Confirmation
|-
| Birbhum
| January 16
|-
| South Dinajpur
| January 16
|-
| Murshidabad
| January 17
|-
| Burdwan
| January 19
|-
| Nadia
| January 19
|-
| Bankura
| January 20
|-
| Malda
| January 21
|-
| Cooch Behar
| January 23
|-
| Hooghly
| January 23
|-
| Howrah
| January 24
|-
| Purulia
| January 24
|-
| West Midnapore
| January 27
|-
| South 24 Paraganas
| January 27
|-
| Darjeeling
| May 10
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Influenza}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2008 H5n1 Outbreak In West Bengal}}

{{#seo:
|keywords=Disease outbreaks in India, Influenza pandemics, 2000s disease outbreaks, Avian influenza, 2000s in West Bengal, Disasters in West Bengal, 2008 health disasters, 2008 in India, Health in West Bengal, Influenza outbreaks
|description=
}}

[[Category:Disease outbreaks in India]]
[[Category:Influenza pandemics]]
[[Category:2000s disease outbreaks]]
[[Category:Avian influenza]]
[[Category:2000s in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Disasters in West Bengal]]
[[Category:2008 health disasters]]
[[Category:2008 in India]]
[[Category:Health in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Influenza outbreaks]]

{{epidemic-stub}}

2008 H5N1 outbreak in West Bengal - Revision history

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