Amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, India has reported the emergence of bird flu since last week. The presence of the virus is confirmed in the dead birds in Madhya Pradesh and Kerala while Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat, too, have a strong suspicion of avian influenza in the birds. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) on Tuesday has directed all state wildlife departments to take serious note of avian flu cases and report mortality of wildlife to the ministry on priority.
What is Avian Flu?
Avian influenza, or “bird flu” or “avian flu” is an infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. These flu viruses occur naturally among birds. Wild birds worldwide carry the viruses in their intestines, but usually do not get sick from them. However, bird flu is very contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens and ducks, very sick and kill them.The detailed information about the clinical diagnosis of the disease is available on the official site of ICAR – National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases.
Talking to NewsMobile, one of the top officials from ICAR- National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases on anonymity has confirmed H5N1 virus as the cause of the fatalities in various states.
Preliminary results of five samples of Bar Headed Goose, crows received for avian influenza testing at High-Security Animal Disease Laboratory, Bhopal has tested positive for the H5N1 virus.
As per the official, “H5N1 virus was first detected in India in 2006 and since then has seriously disrupted the functioning of the poultry industry. This is a recurring disease, the outbreak of the flu this time had started in the last week of December last year, where the flu was detected in the ducks in Kerala, then was detected in crows in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh and later killed several Bar- Headed Geese (migratory bird) in Himachal. The virus strain detected is much stronger this time and is confirmed in these four states (Rajasthan, MP, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh), samples from different states are being procured and tested.”
“To prevent the further spread of the virus strain, different state animal husbandry departments are proactively looking after it and taking adequate preventive measures,” the senior official added.
Till now, In Himachal Pradesh, around 1700 ( official figures may be higher as per sources) winter migratory birds were found dead in the Pong Dam Lake sanctuary recently, Kangra District Magistrate on Monday issued an order completely prohibiting the sale, purchase and export of any poultry products in Fatehpur, Dehra, Jawali and Indora areas of the district. The officials have a strong suspicion of Avian influenza in dead birds.
The state has completely prohibited the slaughter of poultry/birds/fish of any breed/age and their related products (eggs, meat, chicken) in all slaughterhouses or in-home or in any place within the areas prohibited by the administration.
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On Tuesday, Bird flu was declared as a state-specific disaster in Kerala and high alert has been issued after an outbreak of bird flu was confirmed in certain parts of Kottayam and Alappuzha districts. Earlier, Bird flu has been confirmed in two places in Kerala, said state’s Minister for Forest, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development K Raju on Monday.
Even in Jhalawar, Rajasthan 10 birds were found dead on Tuesday. Till date, 138 birds have died in Jhalawar since January 3.
The emergence of bird flu has alarmed the city of Indore and Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh as well. The presence of the virus has been confirmed in the dead crows. Nearly 400 crows have died due to viral infection so far in 7-8 districts of Madhya Pradesh.The infection was detected between December 23 and January 3.
The Mandsaur authorities in Madhya Pradesh have ordered the shops selling chicken and eggs to remain closed for 15 days after the bird flu the presence of which was detected in scores of crows in the state.
Meanwhile, animal husbandry department officials in every district of these states have been put on alert and asked to follow standard operating procedures to check the spread of the virus.
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