Avian influenza alert to states - the disease has killed birds in 10 states (Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh)

Decision to intensify surveillance comes amid concerns that the disease has killed birds in 10 states and caused poultry sector sales to shrink

Tests by animal disease specialists have revealed avian influenza in Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh, the Union ministry for fisheries, animal husbandry and dairy said: File picture

G.S. Mudur   |   TT  |   New Delhi   |   12.01.21   :  The Centre on Monday asked all states to intensify surveillance in poultry farms, bird markets, zoos and lakes amid concerns that avian influenza has killed birds in 10 states and caused poultry sector sales to shrink in parts of India.

Tests by animal disease specialists have revealed avian influenza in Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh, the Union ministry for fisheries, animal husbandry and dairy said.

The avian influenza virus has turned up among ducks in Kerala and egg-layer poultry birds in Haryana, and in wild birds in other states. In the other states, the infection has killed crows and migratory birds.

The affected districts, include Alapuzham and Kottayam in Kerala, Panchkula in Haryana, Surat and Valsad in Gujarat, Kangra in Himachal Pradesh, Tonk, Karauli, Bhilwara, and Sirohi in Rajasthan, and Kotdwar and Dehradun in Uttarakhand, the ministry said. In Delhi, crows and ducks have died.

Avian influenza viruses occur naturally among wild birds worldwide and sometimes slip into domestic poultry birds. While these viruses do not normally infect humans, sporadic human infections with avian influenza viruses have occurred in the past.

The outbreaks in domesticated birds have prompted culling of birds in Haryana and Kerala. “We estimate that around 166,000 layer birds have been culled in Haryana,” Ramesh Chander Khatri, the president of the Poultry Federation of India told The Telegraph.

Khatri said fears about avian influenza have already hit sales in the poultry sector which the Federation estimates has a turnover of Rs 100,000 crore and provides earnings to an estimated 100 million to 150 million people across the country.

Infectious disease experts have long asserted that avian influenza viruses do not spread through well-cooked chicken and eggs.

“Yet, some states have talked about a ban on transport of even processed poultry – this is completely illogical,” Khatri said.

The animal husbandry ministry said it has asked states to build awareness among the public to curb the spread of any misinformation about avian influenza. The husbandry department has also written to states urging close vigilance of the disease and steps to minimise the risk of the infection jumping from birds into humans.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during an online conference on Monday with chief ministers to discuss the planned Covid-19 vaccination campaign, also referred to the avian influenza outbreak and urged the affected states to maintain “constant vigil.”