Thousands of poultry in India are to culled following detection of avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu.
At least 6 states have put in motion elaborate measures to contain the spread of two bird flu strains – H5N1 and H5N8.
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Thousands of birds including migratory birds, crows, ducks and chicken died due to bird flu outbreak.
Meanwhile, the Centre has taken note of the spread of the two strains of avian influenza.
The Centre has asked the States to “take all possible measures to contain the spread of the disease on an urgent basis”.
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It has also warned the States of a possible transmission of the disease to humans and other livestock.
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The Union Environment Ministry has termed the situation ‘serious’.
Avian influenza or bird flu has been detected in 6 States – Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and Kerala.
Avian influenza or bird flu is a viral disease that occurs naturally among wild aquatic birds and can infect domestic poultry and other birds and animals.
Bird flu is contagious which can get transmitted to humans.
Bird flu is considered to be more dangerous than the coronavirus.
While the mortality rate of coronavirus at present is 3 percent, the mortality rate of bird flu is 60 percent.
The mortality rate of patients with Bird Flu is 20 times higher than that of the corona.
Bird flu symptoms:
Symptoms begin to appear in a person within 2 to 8 days after he/she gets infected with bird flu.
Fever, cough, runny nose, headache, swelling in the throat, muscle ache, stomach issues, difficulty in breathing, infection in the eye are some of the symptoms that emerge in a person after getting infected with bird flu.