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Bird flu, also known as Avian influenza (AI), is a highly contagious viral disease affecting several species of food-producing birds (chickens, turkeys, quails, guinea fowl, etc.) as well as pet birds and wild birds.
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Occasionally mammals, including humans, may contract avian influenza.
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Types of Influenza Viruses:
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Influenza viruses are grouped into three types; A, B, and C.
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Only type A is known to infect animals and is zoonotic, meaning it can also infect humans.
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Avian influenza virus subtypes include A(H5N1), A(H7N9), A(H9N2) and A(H10N3).
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Type B and C mostly infect humans and typically cause mild disease.
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Classification:
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Influenza viruses are classified into subtypes based on two surface proteins, Hemagglutinin (HA) and Neuraminidase (NA).
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For example, a virus that has an HA 7 protein and NA 9 protein is designated as subtype H7N9.
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Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus occurs mainly in birds and is highly contagious among them.
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Impact:
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Avian Influenza outbreaks can lead to devastating consequences for the country, particularly the poultry industry.
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Farmers might experience a high level of mortality in their flocks, with rates often around 50%.
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Prevention:
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Strict biosecurity measures and good hygiene are essential in protecting against disease outbreaks.
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Eradication:
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If the infection is detected in animals, a policy of culling infected and contact animals is normally used in an effort to rapidly contain, control and eradicate the disease.
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India’s Status:
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Fresh cases of bird flu were reported in different states of India between December 2020-January 2021 causing alarm across the country.
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Previously in 2019, India was declared free from Avian Influenza (H5N1), which had also been notified to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).
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The OIE is an intergovernmental organisation responsible for improving animal health worldwide. It is headquartered in Paris, France.
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