Bird Flu Outbreak: Several States On Alert As Avian Influenza Continues To Evoke Panic; Full List Here

The central government has issued an alert to states, saying that samples need to be collected from areas where bird flu deaths are being reported.

Bird flu scare has gripped several states of the country, with at least eight states toggling on their alert mode to contain the H5N8 strain of bird flu and sent samples for testing while Kerala began culling of chickens and ducks. The cases of bird flu have been confirmed in 4 Indian states, while panic has gripped 8 states due to mass mortality of birds. While Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Kerala have confirmed cases, states like Karnataka, Gujarat, Haryana and Jammu Kashmir, Tamil Nadu have stepped up surveillance. The central government has issued an alert to states, saying that samples need to be collected from areas where bird flu deaths are being reported. The authorities have also launched a drive to identify those with suspected flu symptoms in the area. Over 4 lakh birds dead in Haryana in 10 days: In Haryana, over four lakh poultry birds have died at farms in Panchkula district in the past 10 days, officials said, adding a team from Jalandhar's Regional Disease Diagnosis Laboratory has collected samples. There are no confirmed reports of avian influenza till now, a RDDL spokesperson said. Alert sounded in Jammu and Kashmir: Jammu and Kashmir sounded an alert and started collecting samples to check the health of winged guests flocking to the Union territory during winters, officials said as neighbouring Himachal Pradesh reported cases of bird flu. Joint teams of the animal husbandry and wildlife departments on Tuesday visited the Gharana wetland in the outskirts of Jammu and collected 25 bird droppings for testing to ascertain whether any of the birds are infected with the avian influenza, officials said. Tamil Nadu steps up surveillance: Following the bird flu outbreak in neighbouring Kerala, the Tamil Nadu stepped up surveillance on inter-state borders and announced a contingency plan for the management of possible human cases. Uttar Pradesh: CM Yogi asks authorities to remain vigilant Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has instructed the Health Department and Animal Husbandry Department to remain vigilant in the state in view of apprehensions about bird flu from some states of the country. Punjab:  The forest department has started strict monitoring in Harike Pattan Bird Sanctuary. Every year more than one lakh migratory birds visit here. Karnataka:  Karnataka health minister K Sudhakar directed officers in border districts to remain vigilant in the view of avian flu outbreak in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. He said guidelines will be issued to all districts for necessary action. Himachal Pradesh: In Himachal Pradesh, teams have started collecting samples of poultry from an area of 10-km radius from the periphery of the Pong Dam Lake, animal husbandry deputy director Munish Batta said. "Our priority is to ensure that the infection does not spread from migratory birds to domestic poultry," he added.  There has so far been no report of any unusual sickness or death among poultry birds, Batta said. Madhya Pradesh: In Madhya Pradesh, officials said that 155 dead crows in Indore have been found with the H5N8 strain since the pathogen was first detected in the city a week back, while in Rajasthan, after Jhalwar, birds in Kota and Baran were found with the infection. Culling in Kerala: The operation to cull birds in and around a one-km radius of the affected areas in Alappuzha and Kottayam in Kerala was launched a day after results of samples tested at the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal confirmed the outbreak of the bird flu in the two districts. Rapid response teams, set up by the administration, began culling ducks, hens and other domestic birds as per guidelines, officials said. Rajasthan: Officials in Rajasthan said samples sent from Kota and Baran have been found positive with H5N8. State animal husbandry minister Lal Chand Kataria said avian influenza has been found only in Jhalawar, Kota and Baran. Till Tuesday, 625 birds have died in 16 districts. Also, 86 samples have been sent for testing.