Alappuzha. Following reports of an outbreak of bird flu affecting two panchayats in Alappuzha, State Health Minister Veena George has directed the Director of the Health Department to initiate appropriate measures under the Kerala Public Health Act 2023. The Health Minister stressed that although bird flu has not yet affected humans in the state, it is important to take precautions to prevent its spread. Bird flu was confirmed in ducks in Ward 1 of Edathva Gram Panchayat and Ward 3 of Cheruthana Gram Panchayat after tests conducted on samples of sick ducks sent to the Bhopal lab. District officials confirmed the presence of avian influenza (H5N1).
On Friday, the state Animal Husbandry Department (AHD) launched a bird culling campaign in the affected areas of Kuttanad in Alappuzha. Around 21,000 ducks will be culled in Edathua and Cheruthana, the epicenter of the bird flu outbreak. Apart from this, all pet birds within a radius of one kilometer of the outbreak area will be killed. Keeping this in view, Tamil Nadu has established 12 border check posts.
What is H5N1?
H5N1, also known as bird flu, is a highly pathogenic subtype of avian influenza A, according to Live Science. Which is known to cause serious disease in poultry and sometimes spread to humans and other mammals. Although it primarily affects birds, it can have fatal consequences in non-bird species, including humans. The virus was first identified in China in 1996, causing a large number of human deaths during the outbreak, including one death in Hong Kong in 1997.
symptoms
In humans, symptoms of H5N1 infection can vary. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these can range from no symptoms or mild fever, redness in the eyes or mild flu-like symptoms to severe cases requiring hospitalization. These include cough, sore throat, runny or blocked nose, muscle or body ache, headache, fatigue and difficulty breathing. Less common symptoms may include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting or seizures. It is important to note that fever may not always be present.
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Tags: bird flu, Kerala, Kerala News, Nation condition of Bird Flu
FIRST PUBLISHED: April 21, 2024, 21:48 IST