The threat of Avian flu (H5N1 virus) gripped the nation causing many people to stop eating chicken for a long time. The poultry industry too felt the pinch.

Through the year, there were reports of the strain being identified in China and South East Asia (bird flu outbreaks mainly occurred in Indonesia, Viet Nam, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and China). But in July, Russia and Kazakhstan confirmed H5N1 outbreaks in poultry and wild birds. In Mongolia, about 90 migratory birds died at two lakes during August.

Between April and June 2005, more than 6,000 migratory birds died due to H5N1 at the Qinghai Lake Nature Reserve in Qinghai Province, China.

Bird flu has killed more than 60 people in Asia since 2003 and more than 140 million birds have died or have been slaughtered in the effort to contain outbreaks since then.

India's main fear was because it falls in the route of the migratory birds.

Reports from health watchers maintained that India and Bangladesh, seemed to be uninfected. The large number of domestic ducks in this region was a major worry though.

Those not consuming were at risk as well, say experts. Bird flu has the potential to trigger a global human pandemic if the virus adapts and becomes easily transmitted between humans. Hence the fear as large number of people depends on the Avian species for livelihood.