Uttarakhand health authorities have confirmed a bird flu, or H5N1 avian influenza, outbreak in two districts. While containment measures are underway, officials are urging people to follow safety precautions, avoid contact with sick or dead birds, and practice proper hygiene to prevent the spread of infection.
In Udham Singh Nagar’s Kichha area, more than 2,000 birds were culled after sudden deaths were reported at a poultry farm. According to officials, samples were tested at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute in Bareilly, which confirmed the presence of the highly contagious H5N1 virus. Samples from other poultry farms in the vicinity have also been collected and dispatched for testing.
Following the outbreak, the district administration imposed a week-long ban on the transportation of poultry, meat, and eggs from Uttar Pradesh, where bird flu cases were reported in Rampur district. “The administration is on high alert, and we are monitoring the situation round the clock,” district magistrate Nitin Bhadauria was quoted while speaking to the media.
Meanwhile, in Bageshwar, a similar outbreak has been reported in a few villages where dozens of chickens died under mysterious circumstances. Authorities have decided to go ahead with the culling of all poultry within a one-kilometre radius and have banned poultry and egg supply from other districts. The district administration says the situation is under control, and they are taking preventive and precautionary steps to prevent the spread of the infection.
What is bird flu?
Bird Flu, also known as avian influenza, is an infection from a type of influenza virus that spreads in birds and other animals. Sometimes, humans catch bird flu from infected animals. Like the versions of flu that people usually get, bird flu makes you severely ill. It is extremely rare for it to spread from person to person. Doctors say it becomes concerning because it increases the risk of human infection, which affects wildlife and reduces the food supply.
What are the signs and symptoms of bird flu?
- Pink eye or conjunctivitis
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Cough and cold
- Muscle aches
- Sore throat
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Breathlessness
- According to experts, these symptoms can be mild or severe.
How does bird flu spread?
According to experts, the influenza A virus – also known as H5N1 in humans – causes bird flu. It not only infects your upper respiratory tract and lungs but also spreads to other parts of your body, like your brain. Humans can get bird flu if they come in contact with an infected animal’s body fluid, like spit, milk, respiratory droplets, or poop.
You can breathe it in from small dust particles in animal habitats or get it into your eyes, nose, or mouth after touching body fluids. However, you do not get bird flu from eating properly cooked poultry or eggs or from drinking pasteurised milk.
Ways to reduce your risk of bird flu include:
- Wear protective clothing like gloves, a mask, and goggles
- Wash your hands frequently when handling birds, wild animals, and livestock or after being in areas where they live.
- Do not work with animals who are sick or who have been exposed to avian influenza
- Take your shoes off before entering your home if you have been in areas where birds live, as it reduces the risk of spreading bird droppings.
- Do not touch or drink unpasteurised milk.
