NEW DELHI: Taking note of the death of a large number of birds in Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Kerala, the Centre on Tuesday asked states to “take all possible steps for containing the spread of disease (H5N1 avian influenza) on an urgent basis” and warned them of “possibility of spread of the disease to humans and other domesticated animals/birds”.
Asking states and UTs to step up surveillance and monitoring of birds for any sign of disease, the environment ministry in a note to chief secretaries quoted a report of ICAR’s Bhopal-based National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases which said the “samples had tested positive for H5N1 avian influenza” — a virus which is transmitted between affected poultry and also from poultry to wild birds and vice-a-versa.
The institute tested samples (five dead bar-headed goose) collected from the wildlife sanctuary in Pong Dam in Himachal Pradesh. The samples tested positive through real time RT-PCR test.
Thousands of birds, including migratory birds, have died in past few days. Calling the situation “serious”, the ministry also sent generic guidelines relating to avian influenza to chief wildlife wardens of all states/UTs and said measures must be taken on priority to control it.