All UP zoos shut for a week after bird flu scare
1
2
Lucknow: A day after it was confirmed that a tigress at Gorakhpur zoo died of bird flu (H5N1), the
Central Zoo Authority
(CZA) on Wednesday ordered the closure of all zoos in Uttar Pradesh till May 20. The alert has been sounded for tiger reserves as well.Following Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's directive to ensure the safety and well-being of all animals in the state zoos and safari parks, CZA has formed a 5-member team to probe the death of the tigress at Gorakhpur zoo.
"The team comprising veterinary doctors and pathologists from leading wildlife institutions in the country will soon reach the zoo for the probe. It will submit a detailed report within 15 days following which further decisions on animal care will be taken," said Anuradha Vemuri, principal chief forest conservator (Wildlife).The team includes representatives from the ministry of Animal Husbandry and Dairy, Wildlife Health Management Department, Wildlife Institute of India (Dehradun), ICAR Bareilly and Bhopal, and pathologists."A special monitoring system and stringent health safety protocols have been enforced in all zoos in the state, including those in Lucknow, Kanpur, Gorakhpur and the Etawah Safari,," he added. All divisional forest officers have been directed to conduct regular health checkups of animals and immediately report any signs of irregularities. Moreover, wild animals are now being fed only after routine health assessments to ensure their well-being," Vemuri said. Furthermore, zoo employees have been instructed to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) kits and adhere to strict personal hygiene protocols. Regular sanitisation is being carried out at all zoos to prevent the potential spread of the virus."The wildlife department is in constant communication with CZA, ensuring that all health safety guidelines provided by them are fully implemented," she said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
15 hours ago
- Business Standard
New mRNA vaccine is more effective, less costly to develop, shows study
A new type of mRNA vaccine is more scalable and adaptable to continuously evolving viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 and H5N1, according to a study by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health and the Pennsylvania State University. The study was published today in npj Vaccines. Though highly effective at inducing an immune response, current mRNA vaccines, such as those used to prevent COVID-19, present two significant challenges: the high amount of mRNA needed to produce them and the constantly evolving nature of the pathogen. "The virus changes, moving the goal post, and updating the vaccine takes some time," said senior author Suresh Kuchipudi, Ph.D., chair of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology at Pitt Public Health. To address these challenges, the researchers created a proof-of-concept COVID-19 vaccine using what's known as a "trans-amplifying" mRNA platform. In this approach, the mRNA is separated into two fragments -- the antigen sequence and the replicase sequence -- the latter of which can be produced in advance, saving crucial time in the event a new vaccine must be developed urgently and produced at scale. Additionally, the researchers analysed the spike-protein sequences of all known variants of SARS-CoV-2 for commonalities, rendering what's known as a "consensus spike protein" as the basis for the vaccine's antigen. In mice, the vaccine induced a robust immune response against many strains of SARS-CoV-2. "This has the potential for more lasting immunity that would not require updating, because the vaccine has the potential to provide broad protection," said Kuchipudi. "Additionally, this format requires an mRNA dose 40 times less than conventional vaccines, so this new approach significantly reduces the overall cost of the vaccine." The lessons learned from this study could inform more efficient vaccine development for other constantly evolving RNA viruses with pandemic potential, Kuchipudi said. "We hope to apply the principles of this lower-cost, broad-protection antigen design to pressing challenges like bird flu," added Kuchipudi.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Ducks primary source of bird flu outbreak at Gkp zoo: CZA
Migratory ducks were the primary source of the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 (bird flu) outbreak at the Shaheed Ashfaqullah Khan Zoological Park in Gorakhpur recently, the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) probe committee has disclosed in its report. The report also identified crows as key contributors to the spread of the virus, which led to the deaths of three big cats. The district authorities received the report on Saturday evening. Zoo director Vikas Yadav confirmed, 'The investigation report, along with precautionary instructions, has been received.' The zoo will now focus on protecting animals from migratory birds, enhancing biosafety measures, and conducting regular health screenings. The outbreak claimed the lives of a tiger Kesri on March 30, a tigress Shakti on May 7 and a leopard Mona on May 8. After confirmation of the virus by the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal, the zoo was closed to the public in three separate spells from May 13 to June 10. This closure may be extended further depending on upcoming lab results, officials indicated. According to the report, the origin of the bird flu strain points to migratory ducks at Ramgarh Lake, about three kilometres from the zoo. Ducks are known reservoir hosts for the influenza virus and often do not display symptoms despite being infected. After a hailstorm on May 1, several dead ducks were found near Ramgarh Lake, but they allegedly went unnoticed by officials. The CZA conducted an inspection of the zoo on May 19 and 20, collecting samples from both inside and outside the zoo premises. Each year, thousands of migratory birds flock to Ramgarh Lake, drawing tourists and bird watchers. The CZA report emphasizes the need to address the risk of infectious diseases. The report has recommended regular disinfection of the area, restriction of public access during outbreaks, and enhanced coordination between the forest, health, and municipal departments to prevent recurrence. Zoo director Yadav also stated that five infected animals — two leopard cubs, a cockatiel, and a vulture — are undergoing treatment and showing signs of improvement. However, sample examination reports of these animals sent to NIHSAD are still awaited. Additionally, the second negative reports for 35 other samples are also pending.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Indian Express
India has to maintain global regulatory standards to remain the pharmacy of the world: Ex DCGI
Former Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) Dr G N Singh, who is now the Advisor to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, was leading an outreach programme in Gujarat for pharmaceutical companies to set up units of the Bulk Drug Pharma Park coming up in Lalitpur district. He spoke to The Indian Express on the sidelines of the country's need to maintain global scientific standards and regulation. Dr Singh also served as the Central Drug Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) for six years till 2018, and as the Founder-Director of the Indian Pharmacopeia Commission (IPC). Excerpts from the interview: How do you see the development and future of the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector in India? India wants to become self reliant in manufacturing and innovation in bulk drugs. That is why the Prime Minister, over the last few years, has given special emphasis on developing pharma parks across the country. In this context, the UP Chief Minister decided to develop a bulk drug park in his state. And we want to make sure that if any international incident happens, since the geopolitical situation is in a troublesome phase, then we can be self-reliant. In such cases, India has to be ready to address issues like healthcare. We (India) are known as the pharmacy of the world since we supply medicines to more than 200 countries. So we have to see that the continuity of supply of medicines remains undisturbed. When you talk about the geopolitical situation, are you referring to the excessive imports of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) from China? Majority of our APIs are being imported from China. It is the thinking of experts at the highest level that India has to be fully self-reliant. We are, but due to cost prohibition, we were lacking in API production. Now with bulk drug parks coming up, the cost of production will also come down and we will become competitive in the international market and hopefully begin supplying APIs to many others, especially Europe and other developed markets. We will capture those markets based on quality, prices and uninterrupted supply. There have been complaints coming in from many nations, including Africa and Europe and ones flagged by the USFDA, regarding the quality of drugs going out from India. How do you see this in context of the way 'made-in-India' medicines are perceived abroad? As scientific systems are developing, the regulatory landscape is also changing. We are continuously adjusting the regulatory system so that the regulator meets the expectations of scientific rigour and the people. Safety, efficacy and quality of medicines is of paramount importance to the regulator and to end users everywhere. So, we want to make a harmonised approach so none of the issues lag behind the science requirements. Both the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules and the Indian Pharmacopeia (IP), which is the book of standards for drugs, are continously being upgraded to address these issues. So, does the Indian drug regulator need more teeth? Is stricter regulation required today? The requirement is to strengthen the drug regulatory system in terms of science, in terms of manpower, in terms of the execution of mechanism and the government must be thinking on those lines because it is aware of these issues. If we want to remain the pharmacy of the world we need to maintain the standards of global science and regulation. The most recent debate is regarding generic drugs. There have been problems highlighted with regards to bioequivalence studies and doctors are pushing back against compulsorily prescribing them. How do you see this issue? It is only a myth. These issues have been raised multiple times and as a scientist, I am of the firm opinion that the book of standards is the same for branded, branded-generic or generic medication. If you take the Indian, US and UK Pharmacopeias, they are not ascribing different standards. They are all the same — right from manufacturing systems, quality control and testing before batches reach the market. So, I don't agree that generic drugs are in any way less than the branded medicines and it is just a myth with no basis in scientific parameters. They are almost equal in my opinion and I had made it very clear on various forums, including international ones, not just as a former drug regulator of this country, but also as the head of the Indian Pharmacopeia Commission. I appeal to the doctors and to the people to accept generic medicines as ones at par with the branded ones.
