The recurrence of avian influenza proves that this virus is firmly entrenched in our ecosystem. The Government must recognise the role played by climate change in spreading the disease and adopt suitable mitigation measures
Exactly one month ago, India declared itself to be free from avian influenza H5N1 virus. However, the death of nine water birds in Delhi over the past one week has confirmed the worst fears of the return of bird flu. For a city that is still reeling under the combined attack of dengue and chikungunya, the virus couldn’t have come at a worse time. The recurrence of the virus shows that it is firmly entrenched in our ecosystem and can resurface anytime.
Avian influenza, especially the H5N1 strain, has the potential to cause a healthcare crisis of unprecedented dimensions in India. A larger and denser population, coupled with modern transportation systems of both goods and people, helps the virus travel faster, thereby increasing casualties. The consequences of such a pandemic would stretch beyond just public health and can adversely impact commerce, politics, travel, medicine, and economic and social infrastructures as well.
According to the United States Agency for International Development, Federation for Environmental Security and Sustainability, due to the known association of the virus with both migratory and domestic bird populations, it is highly likely for the environmental factors to play a significant role in the spread of the disease.
Effects on habitats through urbanisation and deforestation are causing the birds to adopt alternate migratory routes, resulting in increased contact between wild and domestic birds, therefore, enabling the virus to spread faster. Add to this, rapid rise in urbanisation provides a favourable breeding ground for the virus, as it is able to spread through respiratory droplets throughout the densely populated urban areas.
In the next 25 years, Asia is expected to have the highest rate of urbanisation in the world. According to the Urban land Institute, the urban population of Asia is expected to reach 4.9 billion people in 2030. The pace and rate of urbanisation in India too is now becoming a matter of concern with nearly 30 per cent of the population residing in urban India. This is resulting in the urgent need for expanded housing and farmland that in turn is causing high rates of deforestation.
The destruction of natural habitats such as forests and wetlands, thanks to burgeoning population and rapid urbanisation, is diverting the bird flocks to look for other places to rest and refuel. Farms and cities are often the alternative, as they can provide shelter and food.
The utilisation of farms as stopover points for migratory birds increases the contact between wild and domestic birds, allowing more opportunity for the disease to infect poultry and other domestic bird populations. The infected poultry eventually finds its way to the human inhabitation.
Rising temperatures too have been a major cause for the increasing frequency of bird flu. According to studies, climate change has been found to be a significant risk factor for the occurrence of H5N1 outbreaks in the domestic poultry. In fact, the World Health Organisation too has warned of an increase in climate sensitive contagious diseases such as malaria, dengue and bird flu due to rising temperatures.
The Government must recognise the role played by climate change in spreading the disease and adopt suitable climate change mitigation measures as a part of the larger strategy to effectively counter the bird flu outbreak.
The avian influenza is a serious disease that can quickly spiral out of control and assume dangerous scale unless it is checked on time. The handling of the recent bouts of dengue and chikungunya by the Government, especially in Delhi, leaves a lot to be desired.
In order to effectively counter these diseases, it is essential to follow a stringent standard operation procedure (SOP) that confirms to international practices and benchmarks. As a part of the SOP, the concerned health departments must focus on determining the factors causing the H5N1 spread and estimating risk probabilities of further outbreaks.
The Government must also commission research and development projects that can study the root cause factors that trigger bird flu. These measures can help in improving surveillance, establish better control measures, and allow improved disease prevention planning to ultimately reduce losses.
In addition, adequate antiviral medication therapy stockpiles need to be maintained and vaccine production need to be increased. The Government must also launch bird surveillance programmes and implement poultry import bans so that effective control on disease is established.
These measures can enable India to move in the right direction and develop awareness among people regarding the virus, which in turn will help in the prevention and mitigation of a potentially catastrophic pandemic.
(The writer is an environmental journalist)