Haldwani. After the spread of bird flu in Kerala, alert has been issued in Uttarakhand also. 50-50 samples of different birds will be taken in all the 13 districts of the state. After collecting the samples, they will be sent to the High Security Animal Disease Lab in Bhopal through the Animal Disease Research Laboratory in Rudrapur.
If the virus is confirmed in birds in the sample test, then birds within a radius of one kilometer will be killed. Bird flu has been confirmed in ducks in Alappuzha district of Kerala. According to the Animal Husbandry Department, avian influenza (H-5N-1) virus can spread to humans from any birds including chickens, pigeons, crows, ducks. In view of this, the Animal Husbandry Department is also monitoring migratory birds near the reservoirs.
In fact, this virus also spreads to other birds through contact with migratory birds and their droppings. No vaccine has been made yet to prevent bird flu. This is why killing birds is the only option to eliminate the virus. According to Dr. Sapna Mishra, Joint Director of Animal Disease Research Laboratory, sero sampling of birds present in all the districts of the state will be done to confirm the virus.
In sero sampling, it is seen whether antibodies are being formed in the bird’s body or not. Additional Director of Animal Husbandry Department, Kumaon, Uday Shankar said that no case of bird flu has been reported so far, yet vigilance is being taken. Special monitoring is also being done of the state’s first duck hatchery in Udham Singh Nagar district. Veterinarians are monitoring the ducks daily.
