09-01-2021 | 13:16 PM
Bird Flu Outbreak
Context
The Bird Flu in India has been reported in wild Geese in Himachal Pradesh, ducks in Kerala, crows in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Also, in Haryana more than one lakh poultry birds have died mysteriously in the last few days. The Kerala Government recently declared Avian Influenza as State Disaster. In Kerala more than 1,700 ducks have died due to the flu.
Key Highlights
The Kerala Government has started culling ducks and chicken.
The virus killed 1,700 ducklings in a farm in Neendoor in Kottayam.
Five of eight samples airlifted to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Bhopal, tested positive for the virus.
The Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Government have stepped up surveillance and formed guidelines.
In Madhya Pradesh more than 155 crows died of H5N8 strain.
Migrant birds died in Pong Dam Lake Sanctuary due to H5N8 infections.
In Rajasthan, birds in Kota and Baran were found dead with the infection.
About bird flu
Bird flu, also known as Avian influenza (AI), is a highly contagious viral disease caused by Influenza Type A virus.
It is affecting several species of food-producing birds (such as chickens, turkeys, quails, guinea fowl, etc.) as well as pet birds and wild birds.
Occasionally mammals, including humans may contract avian influenza.
Influenza viruses are divided into three types; A, B, and C.
Only type A is known to infect animals and is zoonotic which means it can infect animals and also humans. There are several types of Influenza Type A virus. Some of the virus may cause low egg production and others result in early cracking of egg shells.
Type B and C mostly infect humans and typically cause mild disease.
There are 16 hemagglutinin (H1 to H16) and 9 neuraminidase types (N1 to N9) identified till date.
There are various modes of transmission of human influenza including inhalation, direct or indirect contact etc. can have manifestations ranging from mild to severe or fatal disease.
Avian influenza A (H5N1) results in a high death rate amongst infants and young children.
The first outbreak of human infection by avian influenza viruses (H5N1) was observed in 1997 in Hong Kong. Since then, a large number of outbreaks have been reported in different parts of the world.
