Taking preventive measure in India, the Kerala government declared bird flu as a state-specific disaster and issued high alert in two districts where major cases have been found. Those two districts include Kottayam and Alappuzha. “Bird flu is declared as the state-specific disaster in Kerala and a high alert has been issued after an outbreak of bird flu was confirmed in certain parts of Kottayam and Alappuzha districts,” the Kerala government said in a statement.
The Kerala administration has already ordered the culling of ducks, hens, and other domestic poultry found within a one km radius of the affected zones. As of January 4, around 12,000 ducks had already died of the avian flu and 36,000 more will have to be killed to stop the spread of the virus. K Raju, the State Minister for Forest, Animal Husbandry, and Dairy Development has assured that affected farmers will be compensated by the government.
Of the 12 epicentres, the bird flu has been reported in crows in Baran, Kota, Jhalawar region of Rajasthan as well as Mandsaur, Indore, Malwa areas of Madhya Pradesh. In Himachal Pradesh, the infection was found in migratory birds in Kangra region and in poultry ducks in Kottayam, Alappuzha (4 epicentres) in Kerala. Apart from Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh have reported the virus till now. In Himachal Pradesh, nearly 1,800 migratory birds, majority of them bar-headed geese, were discovered dead in the Pong Dam Lake sanctuary. Kangra district magistrate had earlier issued an order to completely prohibit the sale, purchase and export of any poultry products in Fatehpur, Dehra, Jawali and Indore areas of the district. In Rajasthan, 425 birds have died so far with officials adding that the virus has only been confirmed in the Jhalawar district and reports of other deaths were yet to come.
Avian influenza or bird flu is a highly contagious viral disease caused by Influenza Type A viruses, which generally affects poultry birds such as chickens and turkeys. There are many strains of the virus; some of them are mild and may merely cause a dip in egg production or other mild symptoms among chickens, while others are severe and lethal.
