Odisha is no stranger to natural disasters. It is also known for its resilience to calamities, such as cyclones and floods, which it faces fairly regularly. Its response to the coronavirus pandemic has not been any different either, as the state continues to fight Covid-19 valiantly and smartly.
However, new threats are popping up for the Naveen Patnaik government as unnatural bird deaths caused by a possible outbreak of the H5N8 virus, or the avian flu virus, are being reported from various parts of India, including Odisha.
Kerala is the worst affected state among all others that have reported cases of bird flu, including Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh.
While a central team has visited the affected parts of Kerala to assess the spread of the H5N8 virus and the measures taken to control it, other states are also on alert. The team will also assess the potential impact of the avian virus on humans and public health.
The Odisha government has put its district collectors, veterinary doctors and forest officials on alert against possible bird flu cases. From January 7, the government has increased surveillance around bird farms and sanctuaries to look for symptoms of avian flu and for close monitoring of birds to keep track of any suspicious avian deaths. This will help the government minimise the possibility of avian flu outbreaks in different districts of Odisha.
The Odisha government has released a circular stating that the migratory birds that visit the state during this winter season are the reason behind such an outbreak. Faecal droppings of infected migratory birds, the sharing of water resources with them, and feeding on contaminated feed has been stated as the major cause behind the state’s indigenous bird species becoming victims of the H5N8 virus.
The state’s natural water bodies, such as the Anshupa Lake and Chilika Lake, and sanctuaries such as Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, are the major wintering sites for the migratory birds. There is a possibility that these natural water reservoirs and their surrounding areas are serving as epicentres of new infections of avian flu virus. The state government has been monitoring any unnatural deaths or behaviour of birds around these places so that it can take quick action against a possible spread of the H5N8 virus.
An action plan on preparedness, control and containment of the virus has been circulated at the district level. The standard operating procedure for the control of the avian influenza has also been given out to all district administrations and chief district veterinary officers with directive to strictly adhere to it.
Surveillance is being carried out by collection of tracheal swabs and serum samples of the birds regularly by the veterinary doctors specialising in avian communities of Odisha.
Till now more than 11,000 samples from birds have been collected and tested, with all of them coming out negative. There has been no detection of the H5N8 virus so far, but the unnatural deaths of birds in different parts of the state suggest that the threat of bird flu is not yet over for Odisha.
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