NEW DELHI: Amid the pandemic, there are reports of another scare in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Kerala. In the middle of avian flu Concerns in the state, Rajasthan’s Animal Husbandry Minister Lalchand Kataria called an emergency meeting of concerned officials.
Avian influenza virus It has also been detected in Indore and Kerala of Madhya Pradesh.
“It is a serious matter, an emergency meeting of concerned officials has been called. We are monitoring it,” Kataria said, adding: “We are also in contact with the Forest Department. The administration is on high alert,” he added.
An outbreak of bird flu has also been reported in some parts of Kerala’s Kottayam and Alappuzha districts, prompting authorities to order the slaughter of ducks, chickens and other domestic birds within a one kilometer radius of the areas. affected.
Here we will discuss what we know so far about the bird flu threat:
Hitchcockian Nightmare: What is Avian Flu?
Rajasthan is in the middle of a Hitchcockian nightmare with dead birds falling from the sky. The reason for Thursday (last week) was confirmed as bird flu cases.
A high alert was issued across the desert state after avian influenza was confirmed in samples from around 100 crows that were found dead in Jhalawar. The same samples were sent to Bhopal for further testing.
Avian flu, also called avian influenza, is a viral disease that is contagious and can be transmitted from one bird to other birds and animals. Many birds die from this disease. It can also be transmitted to humans.
Most forms of the virus are restricted to birds. H5N1 is the most common form of bird flu.
All national parks and wildlife sanctuaries and other forest areas have been asked to take special precautions after the National Institute for Highly Safe Animal Diseases confirmed the presence of bird flu in the samples analyzed so far.
The terror of Jhalawar
On December 27, around 100 ravens were found dead in a local temple situated in Jhalawar, which was a former princely state situated in the southeastern corner of Rajasthan. The city is 341 km from the state capital.
His samples tested positive for avian influenza, forestry authorities said.
The Jhalawar district collector Ngikya Gohain immediately sounded zero mobility within a one kilometer area of this temple to ensure there is no transmission of avian influenza.
“We have sounded an alert throughout the state and have issued instructions to inform authorities immediately if there are any dead birds,” said wildlife director Mohanlal Meena.
“We received news of the avian flu confirmation on Thursday and therefore we are advising our forestry officials to take all precautionary measures without any delay.
“If any dead birds are found, action must be taken immediately.
“Avian influenza is quite contagious, so it must be identified as soon as possible to stop its spread to other birds.
“The department of animal husbandry has a bigger role to play in this case, as they will need to identify if there are more birds in the state that are infected, especially near wetland areas, like so many migratory birds in these areas.”
How many crows have died?
Rajasthan’s Chief Secretary Kunjilal Meena stated that “flyers and posters will be put up to spread awareness among the people.”
“So far, 47 crows have died in Kota, 100 in Jhalawar and 72 in Baran. No deaths are reported in Bundi. We are taking the necessary measures to raise awareness and control the situation,” he added.
Avian influenza has been confirmed only in Jhalawar, but instructions have been issued to track each case, especially near bodies of water, he said.
Control room setup
Meena said Sunday that deaths due to bird flu have been reported mainly among crows, most of them from the Kota and Jodhpur divisions.
“The virus is dangerous and the necessary guidelines have been issued. All field officers and poultry farm owners have been asked to remain vigilant. Effective monitoring is ensured at all sites, especially in the wetlands, Lake Sambhar and Kaila Devi Bird Sanctuary, “Meena said. A control room has been created at the state level.
Guidelines followed
The department secretary, Arushi Malik, said the Center’s guidelines are being followed and that an alert has been issued in all districts.
“The situation is not alarming, but we are vigilant, ensuring that this virus does not enter domestic animals. Guidelines are being followed and dead animals are buried according to instructions,” said additional director Bhawani Rathore.
Bird flu virus detected in dead crows in Indore
Meanwhile, in Indore, the bird flu virus was detected in about 50 crows whose carcasses were found in the city recently, putting authorities on alert, a civic health official said on Friday.
Authorities have now launched a campaign to identify people with suspected flu symptoms in the area.
“About fifty crows were found dead on the Daly College campus on Tuesday. Some of the corpses were sent for examination to Bhopal. They were found to carry the H5N8 virus,” said Indore Health and Medical Director Poornima Gadaria. .
A survey is being conducted to track people with colds, coughs and fever within a five kilometer radius in the luxurious Residence Area where the university is located, he said.
Swab samples from suspected patients will be analyzed, he added.
Pramod Sharma, deputy director of Indore’s veterinary service, said that on Friday, 20 more crows were found dead at the Daly College facility. The results of the tests on these corpses were awaited.
After 100 crows, peacocks and other birds found dead in Nagaur
After the recent confirmation of bird flu in Jhalawar district, around 50 birds, including peacocks, have been found dead in Kalwa village of Makrana sub-block in Nagaur district of Rajasthan.
A medical team is trying to cure about 50 peacocks while performing an autopsy on two peacocks as of this writing.
Kalwa sarpanch Dilip Singh confirmed that many dead peacocks were found under a banyan tree and the matter was reported to the authorities.
Didwana Ranger Arjun Ram said a crow, five pigeons and a few more birds were found dead. Some injured birds were also found that are being treated.
Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal demanded that the state forest minister investigate the issue and order an investigation into it.
“I received the heartbreaking report on peacocks and birds found dead in the Makrana area of Nagaur district. The Minister of Forests should investigate the matter,” he said in a tweet.
Bird flu outbreak in two districts of Kerala
Kottayam district authorities said bird flu has been reported from a duck farm in Neendoor.
Around 1,500 ducks have died on the farm.
Similarly, an outbreak of bird flu was reported on some farms in the Kuttanad region of Alappuzha district, the sources said.
Tests conducted at the National Institute for High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal have confirmed the outbreak of bird flu, authorities said.
Bird flu detected at chicken farm in Hiroshima, Japan
Last year, bird flu was detected in a chicken farm in Hiroshima prefecture, ANI reported from Hiroshima, Japan on December 7, citing The Japan Times.
Authorities slaughtered 134,000 chickens on the site and other affiliated farms.
The H5 strain, which has yet to be confirmed as a highly pathogenic type, made Hiroshima the sixth prefecture to experience an outbreak of bird flu this season. All of the cases have focused on western Japan, The Japan Times reported.
Bird flu in Japan comes at a time when the world is battling the Covid-19 pandemic, which has turned into a health crisis.
With contributions from agencies
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