bird flu
Photo: PTI
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Bird flu infection is increasing in Jharkhand. A week after bird flu killed 4,000 chickens and ducks in Bokaro district, state capital Ranchi has reported a bird flu outbreak. Officials said that avian influenza virus H5N1 was confirmed in a poultry in Ranchi.
He said that the Central Government in a letter dated March 3 to Jharkhand Chief Secretary Sukhdev Singh has confirmed the outbreak of avian influenza (H5N1) in the poultry of Ranchi. Along with this, instructions have been given to the state government to take steps for its control and prevention.
The letter from the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying states that the samples of poultry located at Jail Mod under Ranchi Municipal Corporation were sent to ICAR-National High Security Institute of Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) Bhopal. Which has confirmed that the samples have been found positive for H5N1 avian influenza. The State Government has been directed to take immediate measures including declaration of infected and surveillance zones, restriction of movement in infected premises, culling of chickens and proper disposal of dead chickens.
At the same time, State Animal Husbandry Director Chandan Kumar has asked the officials to proceed with the process of killing chickens by declaring one km radius of bird flu infection as an affected area. Also, areas within 10 km radius will be declared as surveillance zones. Last week, a total of 3,856 birds, including chickens and ducks, were culled after bird flu was confirmed at Kadaknath poultry in Bokaro district.
Officials said symptoms of infection in humans include severe upper back pain, fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills and blood in the sputum. The Animal Husbandry Department has issued an advisory urging people to report dead birds on sight.