Bird flu scare: 10-km area around Damanheri village is now controlled zone

As the bird flu scare erupted in district, department of animal husbandry, fisheries and dairy development of Punjab government has notified 10-km area around the epicenter of the disease in village Damanheri, Rajpura sub-division as controlled area.

As the bird flu scare erupted in district, department of animal husbandry, fisheries and dairy development of Punjab government has notified 10-km area around the epicenter of the disease in village Damanheri, Rajpura sub-division as controlled area.

A security guard in front of a banner placed at the main gate of the Delhi zoo that has been temporarily shut down amid bird flu scare.(Virendra Singh Gosain/HT Photo)

This comes after two ducks in the village have been reported dead due to H5N8, a branch of the avian influenza.

The department has directed officials to restrain transport of birds, eggs and feed of birds to any other place. The restriction will be composed upon avian species, which include poultry, ducks and emu.

The department has permitted entry of all these things from virus-free region, without any interruption.

Chances of infection to humans from detected virus are low as experts claimed that H5N8 is a bird-to-bird communicable disease.

Patiala health department officials initiated precautionary measures to tackle the situation. Department officials organised a check-up camp at the village and people in contact of birds are being regularly scanned.

Dr Subodh Gupta, civil surgeon Patiala, said, “We have screened people at the village, not a single case has been detected till now. Emergency medical facilities are on toes and chances of human infection are thin.”

What is avian influenza?

Bird flu, or avian influenza, is a viral infection spread from bird-to-bird. H5N1, a deadly strain of bird flu, continues to spread among poultry in Egypt and parts of Asia. Humans can contact the disease via close contact and bird droppings. The disease cannot be contracted from fully cooked meat and eggs.

DOs

Avoid direct contact with bird secretions.

Clean feeders, bird bath, cages used for birds, with detergents.

Slaughtered waste should be disposed off.

Wash hands after dealing with raw poultry products.

Maintain cleanliness in the surroundings.

Use mask and gloves at the time of dealing with raw chicken/chicken products.

Eat completely cooked meat and meat products.

DON’Ts

Do not consume uncooked chicken/eggs.

Do not consume half-cooked chicken/bird.

Prevent exposure from sick-looking chicken.

Do not keep raw meat near cooked meat.