Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], January 5 (ANI): Putting the administration on high alert, nearly 400 crows were found dead in 10 districts of Madhya Pradesh so far, confirming the spread of bird flu in the state.
The presence of the H5N8 sub-type of the Influenza A virus was reported in dead crows found in Indore, Agar-Malwa and Mandsaur districts since Sunday.
Director of Madhya Pradesh Animal Husbandry Department Dr RK Rokade told ANI that the bird flu has only spread in crows; chickens are still protected from the virus till now.
Reports of the deaths of crows from Indore, Mandsaur, Agar-Malwa, Khargone, Sehore, Dewas, Ujjain, Neemuch and Guna has come into the light, where nearly 400 crows have been found dead, the official said.
It is noted that bird flu is airborne and there is no vaccine for it, he added.
While talking about the source of the outbreak, the Animal Husbandry Department believed that it came from Rajasthan.
Avian influenza refers to the disease caused by infection with avian (bird) influenza (flu) Type A viruses. These viruses occur naturally among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species.
Bird flu outbreak has been confirmed in Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Bird flu alert sounded in Madhya Pradesh after crow deaths
The emergence of bird flu has caused alarm in Madhya Pradesh’s Mandsaur district where the presence of the virus has been confirmed in dead crows.
Around 100 crows died in Mandsaur between December 23 and January 3.
Dr Manish Ingole of the Animal Husbandry Department of Mandsaur said, “Bird Flu has been detected in four samples of dead crows sent to the state lab.”
A medical team has been dispatched to conduct surveillance within 1 kilometre of the infected area by the district administration, he added.
The state government has issued an alert over the H5N8 avian influenza. Animal husbandry department officials in every district have been put on alert and asked to follow Standard Operating Procedures to check the spread of the virus. According to Animal Husbandry Minister Prem Singh Patel, between December 23 and January 3, 142 crows died in Indore, 100 in Mandsaur, 112 in Agar Malwa and 13 crows died in Khargone districts.
The presence of avian influenza or bird flu virus has been confirmed in samples of dead crows in Indore too. As a precautionary measure, veterinarians have started conducting investigations in poultry farms.
A few days before, many dead crows were found near the campus of an educational institute in Indore, following which samples of carcasses were sent to Bhopal for clinical examination and the presence of bird flu-like virus was confirmed, according to a state department health official.
“The infection found in the crows is of H5N8. Human transmission of this virus has not been reported. The Health Department conducted a fever survey in the localities around the Daly College School. The people who had a fever or cold cough problems confirmed that they did not come in contact with any bird or its carcass”,Dr Amit Malakar from the state health department told ANI earlier.
Senior veterinarian from Indore Dr Prashant Tiwari told ANI, “After investigation, it is confirmed that the virus is similar to bird flu, although it is less contagious.” (ANI)
