Bird flu outbreak reported in ducks in India's Kerala, authorities urge not to panic

A bird flu outbreak has been reported in two places in Kerala's Alappuzha district, the news agency PTI reported on Thursday (Apr 18) citing officials. The disease has been confirmed in ducks reared in an area of Ward 1 of Edathva Grama Panchayat and another area in Ward 3 of Cheruthana Grama Panchayat.

The samples of the ducks showing symptoms of bird flu were sent to a lab in Bhopal for testing, and ittested positive for avian influenza (H5N1).

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Authorities to cull birds

Speaking to PTI, an Alappuzha district official said that as per the central government's action plan, a meeting chaired by the District Collector decided to initiate the process of killing and destroying (culling) domestic birds within a radius of one kilometre from the epicentre.

The official said that a Rapid Action Force will be formed and related preparations will be completed by the Animal Welfare Department as soon as possible.

The district administration also said there was no need to panic unnecessarily as there was no possibility of the disease transmitting to humans.

What is bird flu?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), avian influenza, also known as bird flu, is a disease primarily affecting birds and is caused by a virus of the Orthomyxoviridae family.

Most of the influenza viruses circulating in birds are not zoonotic. However, High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) strains can infect humans, posing a threat to public health, the WHO states.

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The main risk factor is direct or indirect exposure to infected animals or environments and surfaces contaminated by faeces.

"The most common way for the virus to enter a territory is through migratory wild birds. The main risk factor for transmission from birds to humans is direct or indirect contact with infected animals or with environments and surfaces contaminated by faeces. Plucking, handling infected poultry carcasses, and preparing poultry for consumption, especially in domestic settings, may also be risk factors," the UN health body adds.

Symptoms

When bird flu is transmitted to humans, symptoms in people can range from mild upper respiratory tract infection (fever and cough) to severe pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (difficulty breathing), shock, and even death.

(With inputs from agencies)