2008 H5N1 outbreak in West Bengal

The 2008 bird flu outbreak in West Bengal was an occurrence of avian influenza in West Bengal, India which began in January 2008. The infection was caused by the H5N1 subtype of the Influenza A virus and impacted at least thirteen districts, including Birbhum, Nadia, Murshidabad, Burdwan, Hooghly, Cooch Behar, Malda, Bankura, Purulia, Howrah, West Midnapore, South 24 Parganas and South Dinajpur. A range of precautions were instituted including a large cull of chickens, eggs, and poultry birds, the imposition of segregation zones, and a disinfection programme for the plant. The government put a blanket ban on the movement of poultry birds from West Bengal 5 February 2008, but repealed it a week later.

The first outbreak in 2008 began in January, with confirmation from the World Organisation for Animal Health established through lab tests on 15 January 2008. This outbreak continued through 31 October 2008. A second outbreak began in Assam in November 2008, confirmed through lab tests on 27 November 2008. This outbreak continued through 27 October 2009. A third wave occurred from 15 January 2010 through 2 June 2010. A fourth wave followed in Assam in February 2011, confirmed through lab tests on 16 February. That outbreak did not reach West Bengal. A fifth outbreak began in August 2011, once again in Assam, confirmed through lab tests on 8 September 2011. and continued through 28 December 2011; the district of Nadia was affected.