New Delhi: The bird flu crisis is now deepening in the country which is suffering from the coronavirus epidemic. The fear of bird flu has badly hit many states of the country, with at least eight states on their alert mode to control the avian influenza (H5N1) strain of bird flu.
Meanwhile, the Union Environment Ministry has written a letter to all the state chief secretaries and chief wildlife wards on Tuesday asking them to set up state-level monitoring committees for avian influenza (H5N1). All the states have been advised to depute the staff/officers to participate in the training conducted by the Department of Animal Husbandry on sampling techniques. Also, all deaths of migratory birds – their number and cause should be reported to the Ministry of Environment. The Ministry said that the local veterinary department should be approached for collection, dispatch of samples, and testing reports sent.
However, bird flu cases have been confirmed in 4 states, while panic has spread in 8 states due to mass death of birds. Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Kerala have confirmed cases, with states like Karnataka, Gujarat, Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu increasing surveillance.
Thousands of birds have died in Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh due to bird flu. This season in Himachal, migratory birds throng to Kangra and surrounding areas. As of Monday, the figures are confirming the deaths of around 2300 birds. After this, the state government has given orders to kill birds of many areas.
Birds from abroad have died of bird flu at the international Ramsar Wetland Pong Dam in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. The National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Bhopal has confirmed the death of foreign birds from H5N1 flu. It is also known as Avian Influenza. Earlier in the Jalandhar and Palampur agricultural universities, the investigation confirmed the viral, but the type of flu was not known. So far, more than 1700 foreign birds of 15 species have died in Pong Lake.
In the last 2-3 days in Kerala, more than 12000 ducks have died in only two districts Kottayam and Alappuzha. Bird flu is killed every year in this state. There too, the state government is killing birds in many affected areas. Around 500 birds have also been killed in Rajasthan.
Crows are dying due to bird flu in Rajasthan and this trend continues. On Monday also 110 birds have died in the state. So far more than 500 crows have died in the state. Concerned Governor Kalraj Mishra has sought information from the state government about the efforts being made to control bird flu.
148 crows have died in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. The samples of the bodies of the crows were sent to the High Security Lab in Bhopal. Bird flu virus has been confirmed in them. In Indore, a team of health workers was sent by the Health Department for screening of people living within one km radius of the Daily College campus and those who got symptoms of cold, cough and fever, got corona test done.
The central government has issued an alert to the states, saying that there is a need to take samples from the areas where deaths from bird flu are occurring. Authorities have also launched a campaign to identify people with suspected flu symptoms in the area.
Not only the circumstances, humans can also be affected
Humans can also be affected not only by the flu. Humans coming in contact with chickens and infected birds can fall prey to this disease. Its virus enters the body of humans through eyes, mouth and nose.
What are the symptoms
Bird flu symptoms are usually similar to those of the common flu. H5N1 is a flu that attacks the lungs of a bird. This increases the risk of pneumonia. Breathlessness, sore throat, high fever, muscle and abdominal pain, as well as chest pain and diarrhea are also symptoms of this disease.
The action plan will be made to monitor migratory birds
In such a situation, the environment ministry has been asked to prepare an action plan to monitor migratory birds in all states. The state will cooperate with the state veterinary departments in the collection of specimens of migratory birds. In this, samples of dead birds will be taken with the utmost care and scientific observation. At the same time, surveillance will not be limited to protected areas only, but also to areas where migratory birds come.