Bird Flu is a word which is not new to Indians any longer, thanks to frequent outbreaks ever considering the fact that the infection surfaced more than a decade ago. While the initially bird flu instances had been reported majorly in 2006 and India declared itself absolutely free of bird flu in September 2019, the nation today is once again amidst bird flu outbreak exactly where numerous states have reported positive instances along with thousands of birds dying from it. Now this becomes a bring about of concern as ten states and union territories now have to battle bird flu alongside the novel Coronavirus. The flu, also identified as avian influenza has the possible to infect humans as properly in some instances.
In birds, the flu is brought on by Influenza sort A virus known as H5N1 and hugely contagious amongst the species. First found in 1996 in geese in China, the virus has infected several birds and has been carried to several nations by way of migratory birds. The virus is shed by their droppings and infect birds (majorly poultry) exactly where they go. Among 50 nations exactly where the virus has been detected, the virus had been declared endemic in China, India, Egypt, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Bangladesh. In 1997, Hong Kong saw the initially case exactly where the infection was transmitted to humans. Those who are in close speak to with livestock or dead birds contracted the infection. According to information offered by the World Health Organisation (WHO), 862 instances of avian influenza have been confirmed in humans so far exactly where 455 folks also died from it. This is cumulative information of avian influenza in humans considering the fact that 2003 to 2020.
However, the information indicated that India did not report any transmission case in humans. While this may perhaps sound a bit relieving in terms of transmission to humans in India, one particular can’t fully rule out the possibility of it going forward. This influenza also has several strains with H5N1, H7N9 and H9N2 getting hugely pathogenic and very easily transmissible to humans. In India, a majority of H5N1 instances have been reported. Therefore, it is far better to take needed precautions. If the virus is transmitted to humans and it mutates, obtaining a further pandemic can not be ruled out.
As ten states and union territories in India like Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Delhi, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked all state governments to remain on alert and preserve the principal concentrate on culling these birds. Officials at animal husbandry have been alerted to retain strict measures close to water bodies, zoos as properly as poultry farms. Anyone dealing in poultry rearing, culling and collecting dead birds have been asked to use PPE kits. At several areas, nearby authorities have place poultry provide on hold for some time.
Meanwhile, folks have been scared to consume any poultry goods. To this, officials have asked folks to make sure that they should really consume chicken and eggs when it is totally cooked as the virus will not be in a position to sustain higher temperatures.