IN PICS | Bird flu scare spreads across India, customers chicken out

Thousands of birds have died across several states, triggering a nationwide bird flu alert. Bird flu, also called avian influenza, has made a comeback amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, hitting poultry sales in many states largely over the fear of it spreading to humans.

Over the past few weeks, thousands of birds have already been found dead in Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala.

Avian influenza A (H5N1) is caused by a virus subtype that occurs mainly in birds. The disease is highly contagious among birds but it can also infect humans. The World Health Organisztion believes the current strain can mutate to become more contagious for humans.

The central government is circulating advisories regarding protocol, along with orders to keep an eye on unusual deaths in wetlands and poultry farms. Kerala has ordered the culling of 40,000 ducks and hens, while Himachal Pradesh has banned the sale of chicken, eggs and fish in some parts of the state.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has announced a ban on import of live birds in the national capital and closure of Ghazipur poultry market, the biggest in the city, for the next 10 days in view of bird flu scare.

For the state governments, preventing heavy losses of poultry is a priority. The agriculture ministry estimates the population of backyard poultry in India to be 729 million and mass culling could have serious economic consequences.