Bird flu detected in Kerala

Bird flu virus has been detected in Alappuzha and Kottayam districts of Kerala, putting the authorities on alert, officials said on Monday.

Control rooms have been opened and a quick response team has been deployed in the two Kerala districts.

According to reports, last week, several ducks were found dead in Alappuzha and Kottayam. Of the eight samples sent for tests in Bhopal, bird flu virus (H5N8) was detected in five samples.

All birds within 1 km radius of the infected region will be culled to avoid further infection, officials added.

So far, over 12,000 ducks have died and 36,000 more may be killed to avoid further spreading, officials added.

The central government earlier issued an alert, saying that samples need to be collected from areas where bird flu deaths are being reported.

The authorities also launched a drive to identify those with suspected flu symptoms in the area.

Bird flu can spread to human beings and prove fatal. As a protocol, the state governments have imposed prohibitory orders in areas where bird mortality has been reported, and may go for the culling of poultry if located within a kilometre of such a site.