Avian flu scare from migratory birds

From being welcome visitors to the country, migratory birds this year have become a source of fear. India is one of the few South Asian coun...

From being welcome visitors to the country, migratory birds this year have become a source of fear. India is one of the few South Asian countries that have remained insulated from the bird flu, and the government fears that these birds may carry the virus.

The fear is not unfounded. Scientists have found the bird flu virus in migrating geese in China. So, the bar-headed geese coming to India from China and Russia poses a threat. ‘‘As the import of poultry products has been banned from the countries affected by the bird flu, the migratory birds pose the only problem,’’ said Union Health Minister Dr Anbumani Ramadoss.

The deadly virus strain has been found in the migratory geese at a nature reserve in western China. Tens of thousands of birds that could be carrying the H5N1 avian influenza virus are due to leave the reserve in September, heading for warmer climes across the Himalayas and in the south, towards Australia and New Zealand.

‘‘These birds reach India mostly in early October,’’ said Dr N K Ganguly, Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The birds, according to experts, can pass the virus to domestic or poultry animals which can, in turn, transmit to humans as well.

‘‘While the death rate is about 90 per cent in chicken, many deaths in these birds have been reported by scientists in China in the recent past,’’ Dr Ganguly added.

The latest epidemic was first detected in April 2005 in bar-headed geese at Qinghai Lake Reserve in China. By May 20, it had killed some 1,500 birds. Brown-headed gulls, great black-headed gulls and great cormorants were also infected. Genetic analysis of the virus extracted from the dead birds showed it was closely related to the strain that has jumped to humans in Thailand and Vietnam.

	Why WHO is concerned

	• The number of countries affected by avian influenza increasing • The number of avian and human cases increasing • A majority of the human population has no immunity • High fatality rate • The human influenza virus is circulating in Asian countries • A new influenza virus could emerge

‘‘Most of these birds go to isolated places in India, but they might pass on the virus through water bodies,’’ said Dr Ganguly. Experts also believe that the birds might mix with birds from Europe and pose a global threat.

Story continues below this ad

The health ministry is on high alert as experts have called for urgent action to prevent the disease, which has killed 54 people in South Asia so far.

While a national consultation to assess our preparedness was held in the Capital today, the health ministry has decided to set up a task force to review the threat. The government is also working closely with WHO experts. ‘‘We have set up surveillance sites and will be keeping a watch on the birds for early detection. Testing of the birds might also be done if required,’’ said Dr Ramadoss.

There are, however, more concerns. The country has very low production of influenza vaccines and case of an epidemic outbreak, there might be a shortage. ‘‘Hardly anybody uses influenza vaccines in India. A report showed that just 40,000 were used in 2004-2005. Producing vaccines for this strain will take at least six months,’’ said Dr Ganguly.