With detection of avian influenza in Delhi and Gwalior, the Odisha Health Department has sounded high alert in the State and asked the Chief District Medical Officers (CDMOs) to take precautionary measures.
Health Secretary Arti Ahuja in letters to the CDMOs has informed that bird flu H5N8 has been detected at the National Zoological Park, New Delhi and the Gandhi Zoological Park in Gwalior. It was confirmed by the National Institute of High Security Animal Disease laboratory at Bhopal.
As the virus is carried by migratory birds, Odisha is on high alert as a large number of migratory birds visit the State in the onset of winter.
All the poultry farms and bird sanctuaries have been advised to take all precautionary measures, the Health Secretary said, adding that the district administrations have asked owners of the poultry farms to report to the administrations if they find any sick or dead chicken.
Ahuja also said the district administrations have been asked to prepare contingency plans for surveillance, deployment of rapid response teams, screening, case management facility and protection of human health during bird culling operations.