Picture for illustration.
| Photograph Credit score: The Hindu
With Maharashtra reporting India’s first case of avian influenza amongst animals, the Union Animal Husbandry Ministry despatched a round to all States on Sunday (January 5, 2025), urging them to quarantine contaminated or symptomatic tigers and different feline species to forestall transmission of the illness to different animals or people.
Three tigers and one leopard died of the H5N1 virus, higher referred to as fowl flu, at an animal rescue centre in Nagpur within the final week of December.
Avian influenza is crossing the species barrier, Union Animal Husbandry Commissioner Abhijit Mitra instructed The Hindu on Sunday (January 5, 2025). Citing circumstances in the US and Vietnam, he mentioned that avian influenza has been present in cattle and goats, in addition to in wild species, notably tigers.
Additionally Learn | Leopard, three tigers die of Avian flu in Maharashtra’s Gorewada Rescue Centre
Reason behind an infection
“In Maharashtra, the case was reported from a rescue centre and after put up mortem, the samples have been despatched to the Indian Council of Agricultural Analysis’s Nationwide Institute of Excessive Safety Animal Ailments at Bhopal. There, the samples have been examined optimistic for avian influenza,” Dr. Mitra mentioned, noting that that is the primary time that fowl flu has been reported amongst animals in India. “They’re valuable animals. We’ve got remoted them and are treating them. The Nationwide Joint Outbreak Response Staff has reached there and is implementing the steps to be taken in such a situation,” he mentioned, including that the Animal Husbandry Ministry will subject detailed tips on the matter inside per week.
The Ministry can be analyzing the explanations for the an infection. “The animals are in a rescue centre. Possibly the rooster meat served to them could possibly be the rationale for the illness. We’re analyzing it and have alerted the Ministry of Surroundings, Forest and Local weather Change too,” Dr. Mitra mentioned, including that there isn’t any have to panic at current. “The human beings who got here in contact with the animals throughout the remedy and the put up mortem are additionally being screened,” he added.
Biosecurity protocols
In its round, the Ministry directed that any affected institution should be briefly shut to the general public and provoke enhanced biosecurity protocols. “Limit the motion of personnel, veterinarians, and labourers. Certainly not ought to they transfer from contaminated pens to wholesome pens,” the directive mentioned.
It additionally directed States to strengthen biosecurity and perform a radical disinfection in your entire space the place deaths have been reported. “Gather and ship samples (nasal swabs) from affected tigers/different feline species to ICAR-NIHSAD, Bhopal for affirmation and pressure identification of Avian Influenza virus,” the Centre mentioned, additionally asking States to report any uncommon deaths in poultry and/or every other species.
Zoo workers safety
The Ministry additionally requested the States to equip all zoo workers with acceptable private protecting gear, together with gloves, masks, and protecting fits. “Conduct well being screenings for zoo personnel and monitor for flu-like signs. Educate zoo workers in regards to the potential zoonotic dangers and correct hygiene practices,” the round mentioned.
It added that the deaths of the tigers and leopard which have examined optimistic for Extremely Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HAI), increase important considerations in regards to the fast unfold of the virus. “The scenario calls for pressing consideration to mitigate dangers to each animal and human well being. It’s requested that the One-Well being method be applied. integrating the efforts throughout numerous sectors, together with human well being and wildlife, to deal with the problem in a complete method,” the round mentioned.
Revealed – January 05, 2025 10:33 pm IST
