Bird Flu Outbreak Has Been Confirmed In Himachal, Gujarat And Kerala, Should You Be Worried?

2020 was the year of the pandemic and even as the country is grappling with the COVID-19 outbreak, there are more reasons to be concerned in the new year.

This, after several states, reported suspected cases of avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu.

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So far, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Kerala have confirmed the outbreak there, while suspected cases have been reported from Haryana and Madhya Pradesh.

Over 2,300 migratory birds died in Himachal

In Himachal Pradesh, till Monday over 2,300 migratory birds have died in the Pong Dam reservoir area in Kangra district due to avian influenza.

As many as 53 aquatic birds, including herons and comb ducks among others, were found dead on the bank of Kharo reservoir in Manavadar taluka of Junagadh district of Gujarat.

ANI

Kerala, Rajasthan also affected

Kerala¡¯s minister for forests, wildlife and animal husbandry K Raju said bird flu was reported in Kottayam and Alappuzha and that 12,000 ducks were killed by the disease.

In Rajasthan, as many as 522 birds, mostly crows have died of bird flu till Monday, the highest number of deaths have been reported from Jhalawar.

ANI

What is Avian influenza?

Avian influenza refers to the disease caused by infection with bird influenza flu Type A viruses. These viruses occur naturally among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species.

Some strains of bird flu can be particularly dangerous and according to the WHO, the human mortality rate can be as high as 60 percent.

Though so far Kerala is the only state where the outbreak has been reported in poultry birds other states too have been taking precautions.

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Complete prohibition in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh

In Himachal Pradesh, the 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.

It also 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.

Rajasthan Animal Husbandry Minister Lalchand Kataria on Sunday called an emergency meeting of concerned officials over the flu.

AFP

In Kerala, authorities have been instructed to cull some 36,000 birds include all types of poultry and ornamental birds within a one-kilometre radius of the areas in which it was reported.

An outbreak of bird flu was reported in the same area in last March also.