Snowy Owl
Retired in 2010, In Memoriam
Bird flu could hit India any time: Govt
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...t_India_any_time_Govt/articleshow/1780990.cms
NEW DELHI: The deadly H5N1 avian flu virus may hit India any time, minister of state for agriculture Kanti Lal Bhuria told Parliament on Monday, sending chicken and egg eaters into a flutter again.
Though the minister tried to pass the blame on to migratory birds, experts differ on what may bring in the virus. The statement comes in the wake of recent reports from neighbouring countries confirming the presence of bird flu virus.
Pakistan recorded avian flu cases in February in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and other northern parts of the country. Afghanistan and Myanmar have recorded cases as recently as last week.
Animal husbandry commissioner in the agriculture ministry Dr S K Bandopadhyay told TOI, ?The threat of avian flu has persisted ever since 1997 but at the moment, it is higher because our neighbouring countries are all recording cases.? A P Sachdeva, chairman of the Poultry Foundation of India, too, confirmed that the threat perception was higher but assured that adequate precautions were being taken.
The minister blamed a possible inflow of the virus to migratory birds alone. ?Cases have been reported from neighbouring countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan and Myanmar and India falls on the route of three major flyways of migratory birds, which are the possible source of infection,? said Bhuria.
But experts differ with him, believing illegally imported poultry or vaccines may be a greater threat. A senior government official said, ?In the UK, the high profile case that everyone remembers was from illegally imported turkey. Such a threat exists in the northeastern states of India, which are close to Myanmar, and in rest of India also.?
Senior wildlife biologists also differ with the minister?s opinion. ?At this point of time, all winter migratory birds are flying back from India to northern countries, they cannot be carriers into the country,? said K S Gopi Sundar, research associate, International Crane Foundation, Minnesota, US.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...t_India_any_time_Govt/articleshow/1780990.cms
NEW DELHI: The deadly H5N1 avian flu virus may hit India any time, minister of state for agriculture Kanti Lal Bhuria told Parliament on Monday, sending chicken and egg eaters into a flutter again.
Though the minister tried to pass the blame on to migratory birds, experts differ on what may bring in the virus. The statement comes in the wake of recent reports from neighbouring countries confirming the presence of bird flu virus.
Pakistan recorded avian flu cases in February in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and other northern parts of the country. Afghanistan and Myanmar have recorded cases as recently as last week.
Animal husbandry commissioner in the agriculture ministry Dr S K Bandopadhyay told TOI, ?The threat of avian flu has persisted ever since 1997 but at the moment, it is higher because our neighbouring countries are all recording cases.? A P Sachdeva, chairman of the Poultry Foundation of India, too, confirmed that the threat perception was higher but assured that adequate precautions were being taken.
The minister blamed a possible inflow of the virus to migratory birds alone. ?Cases have been reported from neighbouring countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan and Myanmar and India falls on the route of three major flyways of migratory birds, which are the possible source of infection,? said Bhuria.
But experts differ with him, believing illegally imported poultry or vaccines may be a greater threat. A senior government official said, ?In the UK, the high profile case that everyone remembers was from illegally imported turkey. Such a threat exists in the northeastern states of India, which are close to Myanmar, and in rest of India also.?
Senior wildlife biologists also differ with the minister?s opinion. ?At this point of time, all winter migratory birds are flying back from India to northern countries, they cannot be carriers into the country,? said K S Gopi Sundar, research associate, International Crane Foundation, Minnesota, US.