January 9, 2020

H5N1 bird flu outbreak reported in India

The World Organisation for Health (OIE) said India's fisheries and animal husbandry ministry has reported a H5N1 bird flu outbreak on a poultry farm in Chhattisgarh, reported Reuters.

The H5N1 strain is highly contagious and can possibly infect humans. According to Healthhub, the disease spreads quickly among poultry through contact with the animal's saliva, nasal secretions or contact with contaminated areas, such as cages, feed and water.

Poultry infected by H5N1 are affected by severe illness and sudden death.

On a farm in Baikunthpur, India, 5,634 out of 21,060 birds were killed by the H5N1 virus. All remaining birds were culled to prevent the spread of the disease.

-      Reuters