Maharashtra has not reported any confirmed case of avian influenza to date, mentioned Sachindra Pratap Singh, state animal husbandry commissioner, on Monday.
“In Maharashtra, we are on high alert and following standard operating procedures,” Singh mentioned. At current, there was no confirmed case of avian influenza within the state, he added.
Officials at National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Bhopal, on situation of anonymity, mentioned they had been getting a number of samples day by day from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. It was reliably learnt that samples examined optimistic for A (H5N8) pressure of avian influenza (fowl flu).
Samples from useless birds from Himachal Pradesh suspected with avian influenza had been beneath investigation at Bhopal Lab.
Sources mentioned this was the H5N8 pressure of avian influenza. These outbreaks have been reported from 2010 in Asia and was first present in home geese in China.
The nation was declared free from avian influenza in July 2015 after completion of disinfection and publish operation surveillance. As a part of preparedness, countrywide surveillance is being maintained towards the illness.
Dr V V Limaye, Joint Commissioner, animal husbandry, illness investigation part mentioned an annual motion plan for monitoring and surveillance of avian influenza was ongoing and, within the final yr, as many as 1,700 cloacal and 1,900 serum samples had been examined from completely different districts of the state and there’s no confirmed case of avian influenza.
“Each district is given a target to collect samples and none have tested positive,” Dr Limaye mentioned.
He mentioned they had been on a continuing alert, particularly after adopting a ‘One health’ strategy the place zoonotic ailments may be managed by a coordinated strategy from veterinary and well being departments.
Whenever avian influenza viruses are circulating in poultry, there’s a threat for sporadic an infection and small clusters of human instances resulting from publicity to contaminated poultry or contaminated environments, WHO has mentioned. Accordingly, sporadic human instances aren’t surprising. With continued incidence of avian influenza resulting from present and new influenza A(H5) viruses in poultry, there’s a want to stay vigilant within the animal and public well being sectors, in line with WHO.