In recent developments, Maharashtra has confirmed bird flu after 800 chickens were found dead at Murumba village in Parbhani district. Delhi too has reportedly confirmed the instance of bird flu as samples test positive.
Moreover, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had earlier announced a ban on import of live birds in the national capital and closure of Ghazipur poultry market, the biggest in the city, for the next few days.The flu was first witnessed in Rajasthan's Jhalawar district where nearly 50 crows within a kilometre had died. Moreover, the flu forced authorities to impose Section 144 in the area while a Rapid Response Team was also deployed. Similar cases were reported in Jaipur and Jodhpur as well. After Rajasthan, authorities in Madhya Pradesh were alerted as carcasses of nearly 50 crows were found in Indore. Meanwhile, 15 birds, including two parrots, eight herons and crows were found dead in a swamp near Vijay Garden colony, Ghodbunder, Thane, on Wednesday, January 6.
Down below are some of the questions that we have come across regarding the recent avian flu:
What is bird flu?
Avian Influenza is a disease that is caused by infection with avian (bird) influenza (flu) Type A viruses. This disease is a viral and contagious and can spread from one bird to other birds and animals. H5N1 and H7N9 are the most common strains of the virus.
Does it impact humans?
Usually, the bird flu does not infect human beings. However, even if a person gets infected, the virus can be deadly.
Is human to human transmission possible?
From the year 2003 to 2019, the World Health Organization confirmed a total of 861 human cases of H5N1 worldwide, of which 455 deaths were recorded.
How dangerous is the bird flu?
Since the first human case in 1997, H5N1 has reportedly killed 60 per cent of the people who have been infected.
Which Indian states have confirmed instances of bird flu?
Besides Uttar Pradesh, the other places where bird flu has been confirmed till now are Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Delhi.
Is it safe to have chicken in Mumbai?
According to a directive issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, eating chicken and eggs are safe, if cooked properly. The meat and eggs of hen or duck must be cooked at or above 70 degrees Celsius to kill the H5N1 flu. Moreover, one must wash hands with lukewarm water for at least 20 seconds after handling eggs or poultry while cooking as the flu spreads from touching contaminated poultry.
What are the symptoms of avian flu in humans?
Some of the common symptoms of bird flu are cough, fever, sore throat, muscle aches, and pneumonia.
Is there any vaccine for the avian flu?
There is no vaccine for humans against the avian flu. There is no medicine as well.
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