Avian flu detected in 3 cats, bird, MP market shut for 21 days: Ministry

Written by Anonna Dutt

New Delhi | March 1, 2025 04:15 AM IST

2 min read

avian flu, bird flu, avian flu in 3 cats, bird flu in 3 cats, pathogenic avian influenza, Indian express news, current affairs

While it is rare for humans to contract avian influenza, at least two cases were reported from India in 2019 and 2024, caused by a different strain H9N2.

After three cats and a bird were found to have the highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara, a market was shut down for 21 days and over 700 chickens were culled to prevent further spread of the infection. All 65 human samples — collected from the pet owners, veterinarians and others who came in contact with the pets — were found to be negative, the Union Health Ministry said in a statement.

The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses are known to cause severe disease and high mortality among infected poultry. An outbreak of HPAI H5N1 infection has been ongoing in the US since 2022. Around 70 infections cases in humans were reported so far and almost all of them were detected in people who have come in contact with infected animals. There have been no cases of human to human transmission in the US, according to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

A 1-km containment zone and 10-km buffer zone have to be created, as per the guidelines for containment of outbreaks.

Dr HGS Paxwar, Deputy Director of the Animal Husbandry Department in Chhindwara, said, “The animals were first found to have the infections in January-end. The cats were extremely sick so their samples were sent to the laboratory in Bhopal. When they were found positive for H5N1, we checked what they were consuming. That’s when we identified the market as the probable source of the infection. Unfortunately, samples collected from two meat shops in the market were also found to be positive.” The market was shut down and nearly 758 birds were culled. The birds were buried and a sign was placed stating that the area should not be dug for the next five years. “The owners of the birds were given compensation,” Dr Paxwar said.

While it is rare for humans to contract avian influenza, at least two cases were reported from India in 2019 and 2024, caused by a different strain H9N2.

Anonna Dutt

Anonna Dutt is a Principal Correspondent who writes primarily on health at the Indian Express. She reports on myriad topics ranging from the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension to the problems with pervasive infectious conditions. She reported on the government’s management of the Covid-19 pandemic and closely followed the vaccination programme. Her stories have resulted in the city government investing in high-end tests for the poor and acknowledging errors in their official reports. Dutt also takes a keen interest in the country’s space programme and has written on key missions like Chandrayaan 2 and 3, Aditya L1, and Gaganyaan. She was among the first batch of eleven media fellows with RBM Partnership to End Malaria. She was also selected to participate in the short-term programme on early childhood reporting at Columbia University’s Dart Centre. Dutt has a Bachelor’s Degree from the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune and a PG Diploma from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. She started her reporting career with the Hindustan Times. When not at work, she tries to appease the Duolingo owl with her French skills and sometimes takes to the dance floor. ... Read More

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