With the arrival of migratory birds at Renuka Lake in Sirmaur, Pong Dam in Kangra, and Gobind Sagar Lake in Bilaspur, a bird flu alert has been sounded in Himachal Pradesh by wildlife officials and they have heightened vigilance against a possible outbreak of avian influenza.
The Animal Husbandry Department has issued the alert amid concerns of bird flu spreading among the bird population this season, setting in motion preventive measures to safeguard both birds and humans.
To counter potential threats after the bird flu threat in Himachal, rapid action teams are being established at the block and district levels across the state. In a proactive step, the department has begun sample collection from poultry farms, aiming to monitor any unusual spread of the virus.
Samples sent to Bhopal lab for testing
So far, approximately 60 samples have been gathered from poultry farms in Solan district alone. These samples have been sent to the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory in Bhopal for testing and the department expects results soon.
While no confirmed cases of bird flu have surfaced, the Animal Husbandry Department remains on high alert to mitigate any possible risks. The department has urged residents to report any instances of birds dying under unexplained circumstances
“The district has been put on alert. Samples have been sent to the Bhopal lab for testing. Apart from this, samples will also be taken from the large poultry farms in the district,” stated a senior official of the Animal Husbandry Department.
Virus hazardous even for human population
About the bird flu alert in Himachal, an official said that in recent winters, foreign migratory birds had shown susceptibility to the avian influenza virus upon arrival in the state. A few years ago, a similar influx of migratory birds at Pong Lake led to the sudden death of several birds, which were later confirmed to be infected with the avian influenza virus (H5N1). The virus, more severe than the H1N1 strain previously associated with bird flu, poses a risk to humans and animals alike.
