The Centre has issued a bird flu alert to states after cases of H5N1 avian influenza were reported from several places across the country. The central government has asked the states to take all possible steps to contain the spread of bird flu “on an urgent basis”. It has warned that there is a possibility of bird flu spreading to humans and domesticated animals.
Kerala has already declared bird flu as a state disaster and rapid response teams in the state have started culling chickens and ducks. Himachal Pradesh, where the first serious alert came from, too has imposed several restrictions on movement of poultry products in the state.
Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan have also reported cases of bird flu. These states have taken certain steps in the wake of outbreak of bird flu. The birds affected by avian influenza show symptoms such as tremors, diarrhoea, head tilt and paralysis.
Here is a look at how bad the situation is in Himachal Pradesh
More than 2,300 migratory birds have died in Himachal Pradesh due to bird flu outbreak. Most of the birds to have died of H5N1 avian influenza are bar-headed geese in the Pong Dam reservoir area in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh.
Spread of avian influenza has been confirmed here by the forest officials. Samples were tested by the Bhopal-based National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases confirming that H5N1 avian influenza was behind these deaths. It is a virus that has a known history of transmission between the poultry and wild birds.
The Kangra district officials have imposed a complete ban on the sale, purchase and export of any poultry products including eggs, birds and meat, and fish of any breed or age in or from the affected areas.
381 migratory birds found dead in Himachal Pradesh
The number of dead migratory birds at the Himachal Pradesh’s Pong wildlife sanctuary in Kangra district has reached 3,409 as 381 more were found dead on Thursday, news agency PTI reported on Thursday.
Meanwhile, officials said 64 crows have also been found dead in the past few days in areas near the Pong wetland. A number of crows were found dead in Bilaspur district, they said, adding that their samples have been collected for testing.
The birds are believed to have died due to an outbreak of bird flu.
A team of experts from Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India is on a visit to the Pong wetland to assess the situation and give advice to contain the outbreak, Chief Wildlife Warden Archana Sharma told PTI.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur will hold a review meeting at Dharamshala on Friday with wildlife, animal husbandry, health and police officials, an official spokesman said.
The CM said Tamiflu capsules and other flu-related provisions have been provided to the frontline field staff engaged in handling and disposal of birds.
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