Kerala Health Department Issues Guidelines to Prevent Avian Flu Spread
The Kerala State Health Department released special guidelines on Saturday to prevent the spread of avian flu following confirmation of the virus among ducks and crows in Cherthala. The guidelines were established during a meeting of the Rapid Response Team chaired by Health Minister Veena George.
Key Guidelines and Measures:
Monitoring: Individuals connected to the avian sector will be monitored for symptoms such as heavy body pain, cough, cold, and breathlessness.
Public Awareness: Efforts will be made to increase public awareness about avian flu and its symptoms.
Reporting: The public is urged to report any unnatural deaths among birds, including crows, to the health department.
Handling Precautions: People are advised not to handle dead or infected birds. Meat and eggs should be thoroughly cooked before consumption.
Human Infection: There have been no reported cases of avian flu infection in humans in Kerala so far, but proper precautions are recommended.
The flu has been reported in parts of Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, and Kottayam districts. Bird deaths, including those of crows, chickens, quail, and storks, have been observed in Alappuzha district recently. The Animal Husbandry Department (AHD) confirmed bird flu in crows for the first time in the state in Muhamma gram panchayat of Alappuzha.
In response, rapid response teams from the AHD are conducting bird culling in hotspots to control the spread of the virus.
