Avian Influenza in Animals

Avian Influenza in Animals

Sub : Sci

Sec: Health

Why in News

• India has reported its first case of avian influenza (bird flu) among animals. The Union Ministry of Animal Husbandry has issued directives to all states to quarantine infected tigers and other feline species to prevent the transmission of the H5N1 virus to humans and other animals.

About Avian Influenza:

• The case was reported at an animal rescue centre in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
• Samples were tested and confirmed at the National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal.
• This marks the first recorded instance of bird flu in animals in India. Similar cases have been observed in the U.S. and Vietnam, where the virus has infected cattle, goats, and wild species, including tigers.
• Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is an infectious disease caused by influenza Type A viruses that primarily affect birds but can also infect humans and other animals.
• Natural Hosts: Wild aquatic birds, especially waterfowl, serve as natural reservoirs.
• The virus spreads through direct contact with infected birds, contaminated environments, or, less commonly, through intermediate hosts.
• Historical Overview:
  • 1918 Pandemic: An influenza A virus strain caused a human pandemic, resulting in approximately 50 million deaths worldwide.
  • 1997 H5N1 Outbreak: The first known human infections with H5N1 occurred in Hong Kong, leading to severe respiratory illness and high mortality rates.
  • 2013 H7N9 Outbreak: China reported human infections with the H7N9 virus, resulting in over 1,500 cases and numerous deaths.
  • Highly contagious among birds, leading to severe outbreaks in poultry farms and wild bird populations.
  • Human infections are rare and typically result from direct contact with infected birds or contaminated environments.
  • Human infections have a high mortality rate, with approximately 50% of reported cases resulting in death.