Rajasthan forest officials on alert over avian flu

All national parks and wildlife sanctuaries and other forest areas have been asked to take special precautions after the National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases confirmed bird flu in the samples tested so far.

Jhalawar (Rajasthan): The forest department on Saturday has sounded high alert across Rajasthan after Avian Influenza was confirmed in the samples of around 100 crows which were found dead in Jhalawar.

Jhalawar District Collector Ngikya Gohain immediately sounded zero mobility within the one-kilometre area of this temple to ensure there is no transmission of avian influenza and also a Rapid Response Team has been constituted to collect samples from poultry farms and shops.

When ETV Bharat asked the District Collector about the avian flu, he said that the administration had received information about the unforeseen deaths of hundreds of crow in the 'Radi ke Balaji temple' in Jhalawar town on December 25, after which a joint team of wildlife department and animal husbandry department were sent to the spot.

All national parks and wildlife sanctuaries and other forest areas have been asked to take special precautions after the National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases confirmed bird flu in the samples tested so far.

According to Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Avian influenza refers to the disease caused by infection with avian (bird) influenza (flu) Type A viruses.

These viruses occur naturally among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species. Avian flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with avian flu viruses have occurred.