Bird Flu Outbreak

Why in News?

Recently, The Jharkhand government sounded an alert after multiple cases of bird flu, also called Avian flu, were reported in a state-run poultry farm in Ranchi.

Key Points

  • Around 4000 birds, including chickens, were culled, and hundreds of eggs were also destroyed after the cases were confirmed at the Regional Poultry Farm in Hotwar in the state capital.
  • An order detailing Standard Operating Procedures, issued by the government stated that the culling of remaining poultry at the Regional Poultry Farm will be conducted in the coming days and will be disposed of through scientific methods.
    • Officials have been directed to conduct a survey within a radius of 1 kilometre from the epicentre to find infections and proceed with culling. They have also been asked to make a map of the 10 km area and mark it as a surveillance zone.
    • The Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying has asked the state to take all measures to contain its spread.

Avian influenza

  • Often referred to as bird flu, is a highly contagious viral infection that primarily affects birds, particularly wild birds and domestic poultry.
  • In 1996, highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus was first identified in domestic waterfowl in Southern China. The virus is named A/goose/Guangdong/1/1996.
  • Transmission to Humans and Related Symptoms:
    • Human cases of H5N1 avian influenza occur occasionally, but it is difficult to transmit the infection from person to person. As per World Health Organisation(WHO), when people do become infected, the mortality rate is about 60%.
      • It can range from mild flu-like symptoms, including fever, cough, and muscle aches, to severe respiratory issues like pneumonia, difficulty breathing, and even cognitive problems such as altered mental status and seizures.