Deadly Strain of Bird Flu Found in India

By RUPAK SANYAL

AHMADABAD, India – A second state in India reported an outbreak of the H5N1 strain of bird flu on Saturday. The deadly virus was discovered earlier this month among chickens in the western state of Maharashtra, leading officials to slaughter more than half a million birds.

The latest outbreak is in the neighboring state of Gujarat, where at least two chickens have been found to be infected with the H5N1 strain.

The birds were discovered at a farm in the Utchal area of Gujarat, the region’s administrator Vatsala Vasudev told The Associated Press.

No human cases of H5N1 have been reported in either state.

The H5N1 strain has spread from Asia to 10 European countries and Africa. At least 92 people have died of the disease.

Scientists fear the H5N1 strain could mutate into a form that is easily transmitted between humans, causing a pandemic. But the WHO says it remains difficult for humans to catch the virus.

Indonesia raised its death toll to 20 on Saturday. A senior health ministry official said tests confirm that a 27-year-old woman who died Monday in capital Jakarta succumbed to H5N1.