After the deaths of a few water birds due to H5 Avian Influenza in the national Capital, health experts said though there is no evidence of bird flu infection in humans in India, people suffering from pre-existing diseases such as asthma and bronchitis need to be extra cautious.
Dr Vikas Maurya, director of respiratory medicine at BlK hospital said, "Till now there is no evidence of bird flu infection in humans, however, those who are suffering from pre-existing respiratory diseases should take precautions to avoid being infected. There is no need to panic over bird flu."
"There is no threat for people who go for a morning/evening walk at parks and open field said, Dr Rajesh Chawla, Pulmonologist at Apollo Hospitals. "Now it is the duty of the Government to curb the spread of infection. Good standard of hygiene is must to keep the infection at bay. Winter is arriving and we have started to see a few cases of influenza. Patients are complaining about respiratory ailments," said Dr Chawla.
However, if there is high fever, sore throat, diarrhoea, chest pain, along with severe pneumonia, patients must go to hospitals as these are the symptoms of influenza, he added.
After testing the samples of wild birds died in National Zoological Park (NZP), New Delhi, the National Institute for High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal, had confirmed that the birds died of the virus H5N8 Avian influenza.
According to wildlife experts, the H5N8 Avian influenza is of weak strain.
As a matter of records, at least, 856 cases of avian influenza A (H5N1) in humans have been reported in 2003 and 2016 worldwide according to a World Health Organisation (WHO) report. It mentioned, 452 patients died due to the exaggeration of the respiratory diseases.
The symptom of influenza/flu is high fever, sore throat, diarrhea, chest pain along with severe pneumonia, said a doctor.