Latest news with #H9N2
Mint
31-07-2025
- Health
- Mint
Bird flu cases are rising again. How bad is it this time?
Bird flu, also known as avian influenza, is a highly contagious viral disease that primarily affects birds but can occasionally spread to mammals, including humans. Recent outbreaks in India have prompted the government to implement various measures to control the spread and protect both poultry and public health. Mint explains what's driving the surge, how worried you should be, and what steps are being taken to contain it. What causes bird flu, and what are the symptoms? Bird flu is caused by influenza viruses that occur naturally in wild aquatic birds worldwide. These viruses can spread to domestic poultry and other animals. In birds, symptoms include sudden death, lethargy, reduced appetite and egg production, swelling of the head, and respiratory or digestive issues. Though rare, human infections can occur through close contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces, typically via droppings. Human symptoms range from mild fever and cough to severe respiratory illness. India's bird flu situation and the concerns As of 24 July 2025, India has reported 41 cases of avian influenza in domestic poultry across 10 states: Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha, according to minister of state for fisheries, and animal husbandry S.P. Singh Baghel. A worrying new trend is the detection of the virus in atypical hosts such as tigers, lions, leopards, and domestic cats, raising concerns that the virus may be adapting to new species. While the risk to humans remains low, this cross-species transmission underscores the need for continued vigilance. Historical trend of avian influenza outbreaks in India India saw its worst year in 2021, with 118 bird flu outbreaks. Cases fell sharply in the following years—22 in 2022 and 15 in 2023—before rising again to 49 in 2024. India has reported 41 outbreaks so far in 2025. While numbers remain below the 2021 peak, the resurgence is prompting renewed attention. What steps are being taken by India? India has rolled out a series of measures to contain bird flu outbreaks: Is a vaccine available in India? Yes. India has approved an indigenous low-pathogenic avian influenza (H9N2) vaccine developed by the ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Bhopal. The technology was transferred to Indian private companies starting in late 2022, with products becoming available in early 2025. This vaccination is part of India's strategy to manage and prevent the disease and reduce economic losses. What's the global status of H5N1 avian influenza in 2025? Avian Influenza remains a global concern. Europe: Persistent outbreaks in wild and domestic birds; unusual detections in sheep, as per European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and Norwegian Veterinary Institute The Americas: Ongoing cases in poultry and wild birds; the virus has also infected dairy cattle in the US, leading to 41 human cases as of July 2025, as per Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, US. Asia: Cambodia has reported multiple human H5N1 cases, totalling 14 by late July, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The increasing spillover to mammals, including livestock, signals a shift in the virus's behaviour and demands stronger global coordination.
Time of India
31-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Gorakhpur poultry shops shut for 21 days after bird flu cases
Representative image GORAKHPUR: All poultry shops in Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh were asked on Saturday to shut for 21 days following detection of avian influenza strains, H5N1 and H9N2, in bird samples from five localities in the city. Samples were taken at Jhungia Bazar, Aluminium Factory area, Taramandal, Bhagat Chauraha, and Shaheed Ashfaqullah Khan Zoological Park. These were sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) at Bhopal in MP, which confirmed the presence of both strains of the virus. The chief veterinary officer (CVO) activated district-level Rapid Response Teams and set up a control room at the Sadar Veterinary Hospital to handle the outbreak. Following the confirmation, additional municipal commissioner, Nirankar Singh, said as per central govt guidelines, culling operations have begun within a 1km radius of the infected zones. All live birds within this zone will be culled and disinfection drives are underway there. The CVO appealed to the public not to heed to rumours and to cooperate with the administration. A total of 1,328 samples from Gorakhpur and 1,470 samples from the Gorakhpur-Basti division were tested during the surveillance exercise. The bird flu started from Gorakhpur zoo where four animals - a lion on April 30, leopard Mona on May 8, tigress Shakti on May 7, and a wolf - have so far succumbed to the virus. The zoo has already been shut for containment measures.
Time of India
31-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Bird Flu confirmed in Gorakhpur: Chicken shops to be shut for 21 days
Gorakhpur: Bird flu has been confirmed in five localities of Gorakhpur, prompting authorities to shut all live bird markets across the city for the next 21 days. The decision follows laboratory confirmation of avian influenza strains H5N1 and H9N2 in poultry samples collected from the affected areas, Gorakhpur administration informed. Samples were taken from birds in Jhungia Bazar, Aluminium Factory area, Taramandal, Bhagat Chauraha, and Shaheed Ashfaqullah Khan Zoological Park. These were sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal, which confirmed the presence of the virus. In response, the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) has activated district-level rapid response teams. A control room has also been set up at the Sadar Veterinary Hospital under the supervision of Manish Chandra. Following the confirmation, additional municipal commissioner Nirankar Singh informed that as per Central Government guidelines, culling operations have begun within a 1-km radius of the infected zones. All live birds within this zone will be culled, and thorough disinfection drives are underway. The CVO has appealed to the public not to believe in rumours and to cooperate with the administration. Meanwhile, poultry samples from various farms sent to IVRI Izzatnagar, Bareilly, tested negative for bird flu. A total of 1,328 samples from Gorakhpur and 1,470 samples from the Gorakhpur-Basti division were tested during the surveillance exercise.
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
First bird flu death in Andhra Pradesh of same clade as first death in Haryana
Visakhapatnam: An analysis of the specimen from the recent fatal bird flu case in Palnadu district by the National Institute of Virology in Pune has revealed that the two-year-old girl, who succumbed to H5N1 infection, was infected with the clade 2.3.2.1a strain. The investigation further clustered the case with a 2024 travel-associated case from West Bengal. The death of the two-year-old girl from Narasaraopet was the second human death from H5N1 bird flu virus in India. Notably, India's first bird flu death in Haryana in 2021 was also linked to the same hemagglutinin gene clade, 2.3.2.1a, where a young boy fell victim to the illness. The observed clustering in the Palnadu case indicates that migratory wild birds or other cross-border transmission routes may be facilitating the spread of this lineage, highlighting an intricate network of viral evolution in the region. NIV-Pune has shared details of the Palnadu case with GISAID (Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data), which monitors influenza virus evolution, transmission patterns, and genomic surveillance worldwide. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Addis Ababa: AI guru Andrew Ng recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Aroun... Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo Including the Palnadu case, India has so far reported a total of five human avian influenza cases involving H5N1 and H9N2. These include one case from Maharashtra in June 2019, one from Haryana in July 2021, and two from West Bengal in April and May 2024. In Andhra Pradesh, the recent infection marks the state's first human bird flu case and death. According to the phylogenetic tree dataset available on GISAID — which compiles genetic sequence records from influenza virus samples collected across various countries and hosts — the clustering observed in the Palnadu case strongly suggests cross-border or migratory bird transmission. The dataset features sequences from diverse geographical locations such as Bangladesh, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Australia, reinforcing concerns about the global movement of the virus. For instance, several entries in the dataset from domestic avian hosts such as ducks and chickens appear alongside isolates from wild birds, crows, and even non-avian hosts like tigers. This variety in host species not only points to the adaptability of the virus but also elevates its potential for interspecies transmission, posing an increased zoonotic risk not just in Andhra Pradesh, but nationwide. According to GISAID, limited surveillance of this lineage in India underscores the urgent need for expanded monitoring in poultry and wild birds to assess its spread, evolution, and zoonotic risk. Andhra Pradesh has recorded eight outbreaks of bird flu across the state in 2025, affecting more than 5.4 lakh birds and leaving 6.02 lakh birds susceptible. These outbreaks, which occurred in regions ranging from West Godavari, East Godavari, and Krishna in coastal Andhra Pradesh to Kurnool in Rayalaseema, took place in both large-scale commercial farms and small backyard settings. While some outbreaks began in mid-January, others were not detected until mid-February. According to experts, this staggered chronology suggests that the virus possibly spread from an initial focal point before seeding new areas through bird movement or lapses in biosecurity, highlighting significant challenges in controlling avian influenza outbreaks.
The Independent
03-04-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Two-year-old girl dies from bird flu after eating raw chicken
A two-year-old girl in southern India died from bird flu after eating raw chicken, the first fatality linked to the H5N1 strain since 2021. The toddler, from Palnadu district in Andhra Pradesh state, died on 15 March after developing fever, breathing difficulties and diarrhoea. Authorities said the child contracted the virus after consuming raw chicken. It was not clear if she had been deliberately fed the meat or accidentally eaten it. She was initially admitted to a local health centre but taken to a city hospital on 4 March after her condition deteriorated. A sample test for avian influenza of H5N1 strain at the hospital returned positive, and the patient eventually died despite receiving appropriate medical treatment, the hospital said in a statement. Damodar Naidu, director of animal husbandry in Andhra Pradesh, said the child was admitted to hospital two-three days after consuming the raw chicken, according to Down To Earth. Following the death, he said authorities conducted physical surveillance of all poultry farms in the region, but found no signs of bird flu among poultry. 'There were isolated outbreaks in February but effective control measures were implemented promptly,' Mr Naidu said. 'No traces of the virus were found in the surveyed areas.' However, he urged the public to consume only properly cooked chicken and eggs. 'Poultry should be cooked to at least 70C. Eggs should be boiled and not eaten raw,' he said. No one in the girl's family tested positive for the flu. The federal health ministry deployed an outbreak response team to Andhra Pradesh to assist in the case. Bird flu is caused by a virus that infects birds and sometimes foxes, otters and seals. It rarely infects humans, but a major strain known as H5N1 has caused global health concern. Only five cases of H5N1 and H9N2 strains have been detected in India over the past five years, the Andhra government reported in a statement. An 11-year-old in the northern Haryana state died in the last confirmed human fatality from H5N1 in 2021. The boy died after developing multiorgan dysfunction. According to the WHO, the first human outbreak of the virus took place in 1997 in Hong Kong. There have been a little more than 900 known cases globally since 2003 with nearly 50 per cent proving fatal. in an area where the disease had been confirmed in captive birds. Last year, the strain spread rapidly in dairy cow herds in the US and the US Centres for Disease Control described it as an "ongoing multi-state outbreak".
