Bird flu is a highly infectious and severe respiratory disease in birds caused by H5N1 influenza virus, which can occasionally infect humans as well.
H5N8 strain of bird flu has been identified in 12 epicentres of Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana. Nearly 25,000 birds have succumbed due to different variants of bird flu.
Seeing the gravity of the situation, the Centre has issued alert to the states to monitor health of birds in forest areas and near water bodies.
Bird flu is a highly infectious and severe respiratory disease in birds caused by the H5N1 influenza virus, which can occasionally infect humans as well.
The animal husbandry ministry has also asked the states for timely collection and submission of samples for confirmation and further surveillance and intensification of surveillance plan.
To prevent the disease transmission from affected birds to poultry and humans, the ministry has asked states to follow the general prevention guidelines.
A control room has also been set up in New Delhi to keep watch on the situation and take stock on a daily basis of preventive and control measures undertaken by state authorities.
What is avian influenza or bird flu?
It is a highly contagious viral disease caused by Influenza Type A viruses which generally affects poultry birds such as chickens and turkeys. There are many strains of the virus, some of them are mild and may merely cause a low egg production or other mild symptoms among chickens, while others are severe and lethal.
Rajasthan bird flu cases
- Avian influenza subtype H5N8, which experts said is less infectious than H5N1 virus, has been detected in Kota and Baran districts.
- Number of birds which died in Rajasthan in the recent days reached 625 with deaths of 200 more birds on January 5.
- The fatalities were reported in 16 of the 33 districts of Rajasthan.
- Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has instructed officials to maintain special vigil in view of death of crows and other birds in the state.
Madhya Pradesh bird flu cases
- After Indore, bird flu has been confirmed as the cause of mass death of crows in Mandsaur and Agar Malwa districts.
- Presence of H5N8 virus was found in the carcasses of crows in Mandsaur and Agar Malwa districts.
- At least 155 dead crows in Indore have been found with the H5N8 virus since the pathogen was first detected.
- Since December 23, 2020, about 400 avian deaths have been reported across 10 districts of Madhya Pradesh.
- Samples of dead avians were collected from Ujjain, Sehore, Dewas, Guna, Shajapur, Khargone and Neemuch districts and sent to the NIHSAD in Bhopal for testing.
Himachal Pradesh bird flu cases
- In Himachal Pradesh, many migratory birds, mostly bar-headed geese were found dead in Pong Dam Lake in Kangra district.
Kerala bird flu cases
- In Kerala, around 1,700 ducks have died due to the flu in in Alappuzha and Kottayam.
- Meanwhile, Kerala began culling of chickens and ducks.
Haryana bird flu cases
- In Haryana, around one lakh poultry birds have died mysteriously in the last few days.
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 "Bird Flu or Avian Flu")
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