Jubilee Post News & Views
Jubilee News Desk
Bird flu was confirmed in dead migratory birds in Himachal Pradesh. The situation is alarming as over 2,400 migratory water birds have been found so far and about half of the dead birds were endangered bar-headed goose visiting the Pong wetlands.
Wildlife authorities confirmed that avian influenza (H5N1) was the cause. Besides the bar-headed goose, the other species which were found dead were the shoveler, the river tern, the pochard and the common teal.
Hundreds of birds have been found dead due to dreaded avian influenza across four states in the country — Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Himachal Pradesh. A bird flu alert has been sounded in these states.
The Kerala administration has sounded a high alert after bird flu cases were reported in Kottayam and Alappuzha districts. To contain the avian influenza outbreak, the officials have ordered the culling of ducks, hens, etc in one kilometre radius of the affected areas. The bird flu was reported from Nedumudi, Thakazhy, Pallippad and Karuvatta.
The Rajasthan government has also sounded bird flu alert after confirmation of avian influenza in crows that died in Jhalawar district last week. Over 250 crows were found dead in half a dozen districts in the state.
In Rajasthan, bird deaths have been reported in 15 districts of the state. 80 bird deaths were reported in Bikaner on January 3, 42 in Sawai Madhopur, 12 in Kota, 12 in Baran, eight each in Pali and Jaipur, six in Dausa, five in Jodhpur and two in Jhalawar
The Madhya Pradesh government sounded Bird flu alert after the dreaded virus was found in dead crows in Indore. Notably, crows were also found dead in Mandsaur, Agar-Malwa, Khargone and Sehore.
Around 53 aquatic birds, including herons and comb ducks were found dead on the bank of Kharo reservoir in Manavadar taluka of Junagadh district in Gujarat. The administration has taken the samples and sent them for testing.
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Many birds carry the flu without developing sickness, and shed it in their droppings. Since birds excrete even while flying, they provide aerosol of influenza virus, shedding it all over the world.
Unlike in birds, where it generally infects the gut, the avian influenza attacks the respiratory tract of humans and may cause severe respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia or Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Its early symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, and sometimes abdominal pain and diarrhoea.
