Amid the coronavirus pandemic, several states across India are reporting an outbreak of another virus – the avian influenza, more commonly known as bird flu.
On 4 January, the deaths of migratory waterbirds due to avian influenza rose to 2,40 almost half of them being the endangered bar-headed goose, visiting Himachal Pradesh’s Pong wetlands.
The Kerala government said that around 12,000 ducks have died in the last few days, while according to minister K Raju another 36,000 are likely to be culled. The Kerala government has declared bird flu as a state disaster. A high alert has been issued in Kottayam and Alappuzha districts where the disease has been detected primarily.
Bird flu was detected in the state when samples of dead ducks were tested in some parts of both the districts. However, it has been clarified that the disease has not been transmitted to people.
It was confirmed in Kottayam’s Neendoor panchayat after roughly 1,650 ducks on a farm died of the disease. However, it is less likely to spread as it is an isolated area. Eight teams of five members were deployed in the district for taking preventive actions.
Rajasthan, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh along with states like Punjab, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh have sounded high alert. So far, an alert has been issued in many states after the death of hundreds of birds currently no person has got symptoms of bird flu yet.
In Himachal Pradesh, the Kangra Kangra District Magistrate today issued an order, completely prohibiting sale/purchase/export of any poultry/birds/fish of any breed/age and their related products (eggs, meat, chicken etc) in Fatehpur, Dehra, Jawali and Indora areas of Kangra. No movement of humans shall be allowed within one km radius of Pong Dam or alert zone declared by Kangra district administration.
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