The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has intensified its bird flu containment measures after identifying one positive case of the H5N1 virus in a dead rooster in Bada Tajbagh under the Sakkardara Police jurisdiction. While 40 samples were collected to assess the risk of bird-to-human transmission, only one tested positive, and that too for a less virulent strain of the avian flu.
The affected household, where several chickens had died due to the flu, was immediately sealed off, and 10 samples collected from family members were confirmed negative for human transmission. However, as a precautionary measure, antiviral medication, including Tamiflu, was administered to them.
Following the standard operating procedure (SOP) for such outbreaks, the NMC has demarcated a one-kilometer containment zone around the hotspot, where culling of poultry birds has begun. Additionally, a nine-kilometer surveillance zone has been established to monitor any further cases. Around 1,500 birds are expected to be culled in the coming days, and poultry feed and eggs in the affected zone are being destroyed to prevent further spread.
To ensure safety, NMC health workers have been conducting door-to-door inspections and educating residents about precautionary measures. A team equipped with protective gear, including PPE kits, gloves, and masks, has been deployed to oversee containment efforts.
The bird flu scare follows a similar outbreak earlier this year at the Gorewada Rescue Centre, where three tigers and a leopard succumbed to the H5N1 virus. Authorities remain vigilant to prevent any further outbreaks in both poultry farms and wildlife areas.
The culling process will continue for 21 days, with ongoing sanitation efforts to ensure public safety and minimize any potential risk of further infections.
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