Centre alerts States on Bird Flu
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 04 2021: Even as the Centre alerted States regarding reports of Avian Influenza (bird flu) after scores of birds including migratory birds died in many parts of the country, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued generic guidelines on the disease.

Deaths of large numbers of birds, including migratory birds, were reported in the States of Himachal Pradesh, Rajashthan and others.

Although the exact cause of the deaths are being ascertained, preliminary reports indicate that it is a case of Avian Influenza virus, said the Ministry in the guidelines instructing the States and Union Territories to take up all precautionary measures.

As large numbers of migratory birds visit India during this season, States should keep strict vigil on the movement of birds in the wetlands for any mortality or disease outbreak signs, said the Ministry.

Generic guidelines relating to Avian Influenza
1) Personal Care: People should wear rubber gloves and protective clothing that can be disinfected or disposed of and use protective eyewear or a face shield while handling animals.

2) Wash hands with soap and water often and disinfect works surfaces and equipment.

3) Do not eat, drink, or smoke while handling animals.

4) Minimize exposure to mucosal membranes by wearing protective eyewear (goggles).

5) The influenza virus is sensitive to many common disinfectants such as detergents, 10% household bleach, alcohol and other commercial disinfectants.

The virus is much more difficult to inactivate if it is encrusted in organic material such as feces or soil.

6) Take an influenza antiviral drug daily for the entire time one is in direct contact with infected birds or a contaminated environment.

Symptoms of Avian Influenza
Affected birds display symptoms such as tremors, diarrhoea, head tilt and paralysis.

The disease spreads quickly causing paralysis and staggering.

It is transmitted between affected poultry and recently from poultry to wild birds and vice-a-versa.

Birds care
1) It should be ensured that wild birds are not harmed during trapping and collection of serum samples.

2) Preference should be given to the leg vein instead of the wing vein.

Wing vein blood collection is reported to result in haemorrhage affecting normal flight, making them susceptible to predators.

3) All wild bird samples are vulnerable and hence all collection of samples, packing and transport should be done in collaboration with trained animal husbandry/veterinary staff.

4) Awareness should be spread that any sighting of a dead bird by volunteers, bird watchers, etc should be reported to the nearest forest/animal husbandry office.

Monitoring of migratory birds Beside setting up of a State level monitoring committee and preparation of action plan for monitoring of the migratory birds and dealing with any arising emergency, the State veterinary Departments should be collaborated with in collection of the samples.

Surveillance should not be restricted to the protected area alone but to all such wetlands and habitats that provide staging grounds to the migratory birds and to areas where there is a possibility of interaction of migratory birds and poultry, more so in backyard poultry.

All deaths of migratory birds, whatever be the number and cause, should be reported to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change immediately.

Press reports be given judiciously to prevent undue panic and which may lead to unwarranted killing of migratory birds.

Vigilance should be stepped up in the zoos also.

Further, weekly reports on the number and species of birds arrived, approximate period of arrival and stay and change in migratory pattern regarding number, arrival sites, etc as compared to previous years should be sent to the Ministry.

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