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Agencies:

Amid Bird Flu scare, Centre, States step up efforts to contain spread

New Delhi
January 6, 2021

Across India, lakhs of birds have been found dead in the last 10 days. At least four states - Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Rajasthan have confirmed bird flu, sounding an alert as the authorities step up efforts to contain the spread.

Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are also vigilant after 12,000 ducks died in the last few days in neighbouring Kerala. In the northern part of the country, Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana, close to Himachal Pradesh, have also started investigating samples amid the scare. Bird flu or avian flu viruses can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species.

The disease is "zoonotic" but infection in humans has not been reported in India, according to the Government; 12 epi centres in four affected states have been identified and the centre has issued an advisory. A control room has been set up in Delhi to monitor the situation.