India taking precautionary measures to contain bird flu

INDIA is on alert  following  detection of bird flu cases in  Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. A total of   12 epicentres has been located  in Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. Bird flu, also known as avian influenza or avian flu, is a kind of influenza  is caused by viruses adapted to birds. The disease bird flu is similar to other cases of flu such as swine flu, dog flu, horse flu, or human flu as it refers to an illness caused by any of many different strains of influenza viruses that have adapted to a specific host. Fresh cases of bird flu were reported in different states of India between December 2020-January 2021 causing alarm across the country. The Centre on Wednesday deployed multi-disciplinary teams in bird flu-affected areas of Kerala and Haryana. Madhya Pradesh. The current bird flu outbreak is reported barely a few months after India in September 30, 2020, declared the country free from the disease. India notified the first outbreak of avian influenza in 2006.The Union Ministries fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying ministry said on Wednesday that advisories have been issued to contain further spread of the infection in poultry ducks, crows and migratory birds. Haryana is on high alert due to unusual mortality at poultry farms in Panchkula, an official said .The Odisha government has decided to form Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) at the state and district levels to avoid the outbreak of avian influenza, though not a single case of bird flu is detected in the state. Andhra Pradesh government has sounded warning asking the animal husbandry officials to keep a close watch on migratory birds and poultry for any symptoms of the disease. The forest authorities are keeping a close watch on migratory birds in all protected areas across the state where birds congregate in large numbers. The Union Territory of  Jammu-Kashmir has issued advisory to poultry owners and dealers for the prevention of the spread of the disease. The advisory directed the poultry farmers to improve bio-security measures in the farms and not allow any artificial ponds, small water bodies inside and around the farm premises which may attract wild birds and is a risk to the poultry. There is no possibility of bird flu in Gautam Buddh Nagar in Uttar Pradesh as of now. The district’s chief veterinary officer informed officials during a meeting to review the avian influenza situation. With inputs taken  from Hindustan Times