'H5N1 bird flu outbreak reported in Uttar Pradesh'
Nearly 190 birds died of the virus in a village in Amethi
 "'H5N1 bird flu outbreak reported in Uttar Pradesh'")
The government has reported an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu virus in a village in Amethi district in Uttar Pradesh, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) said on Wednesday.
Nearly 190 birds died of the virus in a village in Amethi, the agriculture ministry said in a report posted on the OIE website. An epidemiological investigation was on and an intensive surveillance campaign launched in a 10-km radius zone, it said.
A place is considered to be officially impacted by bird flu when the respective government notifies the same to OIE as a mandatory practice.
In India, the first instance of bird flu was found in Maharashtra. Since, then the disease has hit several other parts of the country. The last bird flu attack was in Kerala in November 2014.
India, one of the major exporters of poultry meat, exported 4.37 tonnes of poultry and poultry products worth Rs 566 crore in 2013-14, while in 2014-15 till August, the exports have totalled 190,326 tonnes worth Rs 242 crore.
The highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu first infected humans in 1997 in Hong Kong. It has since spread from Asia to Europe and Africa and has become entrenched in some countries, causing millions of poultry infections and several hundred human deaths.
Nearly 190 birds died of the virus in a village in Amethi, the agriculture ministry said in a report posted on the OIE website. An epidemiological investigation was on and an intensive surveillance campaign launched in a 10-km radius zone, it said.
A place is considered to be officially impacted by bird flu when the respective government notifies the same to OIE as a mandatory practice.
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For the last few days, the state government has culled hundreds of hens, ducks and pigeons in Amethi, to stop the spread of the disease. The state has also formed 10 teams, which are visiting the affected villages to cull the infected birds.
In India, the first instance of bird flu was found in Maharashtra. Since, then the disease has hit several other parts of the country. The last bird flu attack was in Kerala in November 2014.
India, one of the major exporters of poultry meat, exported 4.37 tonnes of poultry and poultry products worth Rs 566 crore in 2013-14, while in 2014-15 till August, the exports have totalled 190,326 tonnes worth Rs 242 crore.
The highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu first infected humans in 1997 in Hong Kong. It has since spread from Asia to Europe and Africa and has become entrenched in some countries, causing millions of poultry infections and several hundred human deaths.