India: Bird Flu confirmed in 13 states - January 2021

[Emily]

https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/avian-flu-suspected-behind-migratory-birds-death-at-hp-s-pong-dam-toll-rises-to-1-700/story-udxEKkf2YlnKg9rob0LO3N.html

Avian flu causing migratory birds’ death at HP’s Pong Dam, toll rises to 2,400

Lab reports expected on Tuesday, while post-mortem reports rule out poisoning

chandigarh Updated: Jan 04, 2021, 21:54 IST

Naresh K Thakur
Hindustan Times, Dharamshala



...
Most of the fatalities are being seen among bar-headed geese, the world’s highest-flying birds that migrate from far-off Siberia and Mongolia. Birds from other species such as the common teal, shoveler, river tern and black-headed gull were also found dead.

The Kangra district administration has banned all kind of activities, including fishing, grazing and boating, in 1-km area of the lake. The next 9-km area has been declared a surveillance zone.

The divisional forest officer (wildlife), headquarters, Devinder Singh Dadhwal, who has experience working in Pong Wetland, said that never have such a large number of bird deaths been reported from the area. “If it turns out to be avian flu, it would be for the first time in Pong Wetland,” he said adding that the wildlife sanctuaries and zoos in the region have also been put on alert.

[Treyfish]

India: 350,000+ suspected bird deaths from flu

Indian Environment Ministry issues nationwide alert as 5 states confirmed outbreak of Avian Influenza

Cheena Kapoor |05.01.2021

NEW DELHI, India

Amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, five states in India have confirmed the outbreak of Avian Influenza, commonly known as bird flu, forcing the Environment Ministry to issue a nationwide alert.

“The flu has reached the poultry birds in Barwala belt of the Panchkula district in [the northern] Haryana [state], we’ve so far recorded 350,000 dead poultry birds in the district, all suspected deaths from the flu,” said Mukesh Kumar Ahuja, deputy commissioner of district animal husbandry department.

“Ministry guidelines are being followed and the district is under strict vigilance for symptoms in other animals,” Ahuja added.

The outbreak has also killed 2,400 migratory birds in another northern state of Himachal Pradesh, another official confirmed.

“Until Monday night, we had recorded 2,403 dead bar-headed geese birds, all of which tested positive for the H5N1 virus. This is a serious concern and we are following the guidelines from the Ministry to stop the spread of the virus to domestic birds,” said Dr. Munish Batta, deputy director of epidemiology at the state animal husbandry department.....https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacifi...om-flu/2099323

[Treyfish]

India to cull tens of thousands of poultry in bird flu outbreak
41 MINUTES AGO

Six states have stepped up efforts to contain two strains of bird flu – H5N1 and H5N8 – in recent days after the deaths of thousands of migratory birds.

Tens of thousands of poultry will be slaughtered in India after an outbreak of deadly avian influenza was found to have killed scores of birds across the country, officials have.

At least six Indian states have stepped up efforts to contain two strains of bird flu – H5N1 and H5N8 – in recent days after the deaths of thousands of migratory birds, ducks, crows, and chickens....

..In northern Haryana state, authorities said nearly 150,000 chickens died mysteriously across several poultry farms in Barwala district.

Neighbouring Punjab also reported similar deaths.


H5N8, an Avian influenza subtype among poultry and wild birds, has spread across several countries since early last year.

...More than 20 farms said their flocks were wiped out by an "unknown disease" and samples have been sent to labs for testing.

Western Rajasthan and central Madhya Pradesh states have also reported hundreds of crow deaths caused by H5N1 and H5N8 over past weeks. Rajasthan had already seen nearly 4,500 crows and herons die over several months from avian flu....https://www.trtworld.com/asia/india-...outbreak-42978