Avian influenza

In: Current Affairs, Environment By: Admin 0 Comments

Avian influenza, popularly known as bird flu, has been reported from Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh in recent weeks.

The two virus types identified so far in the outbreaks — H5N1 and H5N8 — come under the category of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), which is of major concern to those keeping birds, because it leads to disease and death of fowl and causes economic havoc.
H5N1 is a known threat to humans as well.
The World Animal Health Information System in December 2020 identified outbreaks of HPAI in Taiwan, Iran, Israel, Japan, South Korea and Vietnam, a dozen European Union countries, Ukraine, Russia and the U.K., leading to a loss of over 4.8 million birds by the end of December 2020.
Avian Influenza (AI) is a highly contagious viral disease, affecting a variety of birds, including those connected with human consumption — chickens, ducks, turkeys, quails — as well as pet birds and wild birds.
The World Organization for Animal Health, which collaborates with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), says HPAI virus strains H5N1, H5N2, H5N8, H7N8 have been identified in outbreaks, indicating active circulation. Infection histories point to H5N1 and H7N9 viruses posing a threat to human health as well.

Impact of bird flu

India’s poultry sector, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, is worth ₹80,000 crore, of which the organized sector represents 80%, and the rest is distributed among unorganised sectors, including backyard poultry-keeping which is crucial for income and nutritional security.
By the government’s estimates, there are 30 million farmers who keep backyard birds, while small and medium farmers who contribute to aggregators are crucial players in the larger ecosystem.
India has a base of over 729 million poultry birds, of which 30% are layers and 40% are broilers, according to the National Action Plan for Egg and Poultry 2022.

Avian influenza (bird flu) -nalanda ias academy

Does bird flu pose a threat to human beings?

The WHO, in its literature on avian influenza, states that humans can be infected with virus subtypes H5N1, H7N9, and H9N2.
“Human cases of H5N1 avian influenza occur occasionally, but it is difficult to transmit the infection from person to person. When people do become infected, the mortality rate is about 60%.”
The global health body records that since 2003, there have been 862 laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with H5N1, and 455 deaths have been reported from 17 countries.

Steps can be taken to minimise risk to domestic birds:

In India, the Central government requires veterinary staff to conduct inspections periodically under the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009, to catch any signs of disease among birds and other animals early.
However, aquatic wild birds are often found in close proximity to domestic ones in many locations in India, near lakes, dams, and reservoirs, making it difficult to achieve segregation. The waterways of Kerala are a good example of this phenomenon.

What causes avian influenza?

How bad is avian influenza?

Can humans get avian influenza?

Is there a vaccine for avian flu?

What is the main treatment for avian influenza?

How is bird flu prevented?

How long did bird flu last?

Is there a vaccine for h1n1?

bird flu symptoms in birds

Is bird flu curable?

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