Bird flu situation under control, no need to panic: Centre

The bird flu situation "is under control and there is no need to panic" as state governments are taking steps to prevent spread of the disease, the Centre said today.
Birds in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala have tested positive of avian influenza AH5N8, which according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), is considered less risky of being transmitted to humans. But the government is taking no chances and is reviewing the situation on a daily basis.
"The situation is under control and there is no need to panic," Animal Husbandry Secretary Devendra Chaudhry said after reviewing the overall situation of avian influenza in the country.

Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi have not reported any mortality of birds, he said in a statement.
On October 27, only one mortality in wild bird was reported from Sanjay Jheel, Shakti Sthal, New Delhi. "The control and containment operation is over in Rajpura in Patiala district, Punjab. Surveillance is being carried out."
In Kerala, the secretary said that the state government has initiated control and containment operations from October 26 at epicenter village Ramankary and Thakazhy in Alappuzha district and culling process is on.
One scientist from Southern Regional Disease Diagnosis Laboratory (SRDDL), Bengaluru has been deputed to Kerala as a Central Observer to oversee and guide the control and containment operations, he said.

The state governments have been directed to be vigilant and ensure the surveillance of the disease and take all bio- security/preventive measures, he added.