It’s fourth day of January and the news of another disease is hovering around us. After the globe is waiting for the vaccine to battle COVID-19, bird flu has hit back! A bird flu alert is sounded in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
This comes after the presence of the virus was confirmed in dead crows in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. On Sunday, seven crows were reported dead at Jaipur's iconic Jal Mahal, taking total to 252 in Rajasthan. A high alert has been sounded across the desert state after Avian Influenza was established in the samples of around 100 crows that were found dead in Jhalawar of Rajasthan. All national parks and wildlife sanctuaries have been requested to take essential precautions after the National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases confirmed bird flu in the samples tested so far.
The bird flu virus was also detected in around 50 crows whose corpses were found in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, three days ago, driving the authorities on alert, news agency PTI reported a civic health official as saying.
ALERT TO STATES
The Centre issued an alert to the states, stating that samples need to be collected from locations where bird flu deaths are being reported. The officials have also initiated a move to identify those with suspected flu symptoms in the area. Bird flu can spread to human beings and prove fatal thus as per protocol, the state governments have forced prohibitory orders in areas where bird mortality has been reported and may go for the removing of poultry.
WHAT IS BIRD FLU
Bird flu is a viral disease that is contagious and can spread from one bird to other birds and animals. It can be transmitted to humans also. H5N1 is the most common form of bird flu. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the flu was first discovered in humans in 1997 and has proved fatal to 60 per cent of those infected.
