Bird flu reported in 4 statesThe ongoing outbreak has been reported from these parts of India:
1. Rajasthan (crow) – Baran, Kota, Jhalawar
2. Madhya Pradesh (crow) – Mandsaur, Indore, Malwa
3. Himachal Pradesh (migratory birds) - Kangra
4. Kerala (poultry-duck) - Kottayam, Allapuzha (4 epicentres)
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.
Haryana:
In Haryana, over four lakh poultry birds have died at farms in Panchkula district in the past 10 days and a team from Jalandhar’s Regional Disease Diagnosis Laboratory has collected samples. However, there are no confirmed reports of avian influenza till now. Haryana’s Animal Husbandry Department has issued an advisory regarding poultry products.
The Karnataka government has ordered all the districts bordering Kerala including Mysuru, Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada and Chamrajnagar to be on high alert following the outbreak of bird flu (H5N8) there. Border checkpoints have been set up in all these districts to prevent infected birds along with poultry from being brought in from the neighbouring state. Sanitisation measures have also been put in place.
Karnataka and TamilNadu:
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have stepped up surveillance and formed guidelines following the outbreak of the viral infection in neighbouring Kerala, where around 1,700 ducks have died due to the flu.
Madhya Pradesh:
In Madhya Pradesh, over 155 dead crows in Indore have been found with the H5N8 strain since the pathogen was first detected in the city a week back. In Indore, the presence of bird flu was first detected on December 29, when about 50 crows were found dead on the Daly College campus of the Residency area, and tests run on two of the carcasses confirmed the presence of the pathogen.
