Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan convened an emergency meeting of senior officials at his residence on Wednesday in view of the growing avian influenza (bird flu) scare in the country and death of around 400 crows in 10 districts of the state.
During the meeting on Wednesday, Chouhan directed stopping poultry trade with Kerala—where bird flu cases have been confirmed—and surrounding southern states temporarily as a preventive measure. Chouhan said that though there are no cases of bird flu in poultry in the state, precaution, prevention and control are important and directed officials to take all necessary steps.
Also, the government has urged the non-vegetarian population to be on the alert and cook the poultry birds (chicken) well before consumption. “Though there is no hazard to human health from avian influenza and no such cases (of human infection) have yet been reported, alertness and precaution is necessary,” a government communiqué said.
As of now, there have been reports of deaths of 155 crows in Indore, about 100 in Mandsaur, 112 in Agar Malwa and 13 in Khargone, according to sources.
Bird flu is considered a highly contagious viral disease that normally affects birds and poultry but has a potential for human transmission. The symptoms in human beings are similar to common flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, sometimes abdominal pain, diarrhoea and nausea.
No cases of human infection have yet been reported in India though several episodes of the more contagious H5N1 strain infection in poultry have been reported in various states since 2005.
Only people coming in close contact with dead or alive infected birds are in the risk category. There is no evidence that the virus can spread to human beings if the poultry and eggs are well cooked before eating, according to experts. This is because the virus is sensitive to heat and dies in high cooking temperatures.
It was informed during the meeting with the chief minister that Central government advisory on the infection has been sent out to all the districts. Samples from poultry and other birds including migratory birds in the districts where crows were found dead have been collected and sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal for testing. Results are yet awaited.
Till now, only H5N8 strain has been found in some of the dead crow samples where there are no reports of any infection in the poultry reared in farms or backyards, it was informed. No cases of H5N1 strain of bird flu—considered more infectious for humans—have been found yet in the state.
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Poultry breeders and traders are being informed of preventive measures and government teams are keeping close watch on the water bodies (where migratory birds come), poultry yards and poultry markets.
Chouhan said that the situation should be constantly monitored especially as regards poultry and random sampling in poultry farms and backyards should be conducted. Districts where crows were found dead should be in special focus, he said.
Medical Education Minister Vishwas Sarang, chief secretary Iqbal Singh Bains, additional chief secretary of animal husbandry department J.N. Kansotia, additional chief secretary of public health and family welfare, Mohammad Suleman and other officials were present at the meeting.
