Avian Influenza

Delhi Zoo reopens after two-month shutdown due to avian flu scare

The National Zoological Park in Delhi reopened for visitors on Saturday, after more than two months of shutdown following the detection of avian influenza, officials said. The zoo had been closed since August 30 as a precautionary measure after several bird deaths were reported in its waterbird aviary. "After receiving approval from competent authority, the National Zoological Park has reopened for visitors from November 8," the zoo said in a statement, adding that strict biosafety and preventive measures will continue. Authorities carried out rigorous cleaning, surveillance, and multiple rounds of testing under the Action Plan for Preparedness, Control and Containment of Avian Influenza (Revised 2021) issued by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. The samples collected after the initial outbreak were found to be negative in tests conducted at the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Bhopal, paving the way for reopening. The last positive case

Could one mRNA therapy stop flu, Covid, and more? Scientists say yes

Inspired by a rare mutation that makes people virus-resistant, researchers have created an experimental mRNA nasal therapy that may offer broad protection against future outbreaks

Should you get the flu vaccine every year? Here's what Indian doctors say

From cost to timing and effectiveness, here's what doctors in India want you to know about the annual flu vaccine, who should take it, and why it matters for health and hospitalisation prevention

Bird flu in humans, pets and cattle: Why virologists fear an H5N1 pandemic

As H5N1 bird flu spreads across species in the US, global experts warn that ongoing mutations, cross-species infections, and rising human cases could push the virus closer to sustained transmission

ICMR initiates process of vaccine development against avian influenza

The ICMR has initiated the process of development of an ingenious human vaccine candidate against highly-pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1). The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has invited expression of interest from the eligible organisations, companies, manufacturers for joint collaboration in research and development for development of human vaccine candidate against H5N1. The avian influenza H5N1, a highly pathogenic strain of bird flu, continues to pose a significant threat to animal and human health in India. Recent outbreaks in 2021, 2023 and 2024 have been reported in several states, primarily affecting poultry and wild birds, the expression of interest document said. These outbreaks have caused significant economic losses in the poultry industry and raised public health concerns due to the virus's zoonotic potential, it said. The document stated that avian influenza H5N1 virus poses a grave public health risk because of its high mortality rate and its potential t

Govt conducts 5-day mock drill to assess zoonotic pandemic preparedness

The NOHM, set up in 2022, is a cross-ministerial effort to review areas of focus from a human health standpoint as well as livestock and wildlife aspects

Centre issues advisory after 4 states report outbreaks of bird flu

The affected states are Andhra Pradesh (Nellore district), Maharashtra (Nagpur district), Jharkhand (Ranchi district) and Kerala (Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts)

Avian flu outbreak confirmed in state-run poultry farm in Kerala's Kottayam

Decision was taken to euthanize and cremate all domesticated and pet birds within a one kilometer radius of the poultry farm

Australia reports its first human case of avian influenza infection

The H5N1 strain of avian flu has swept the globe in recent years, killing billions of farmed and wild birds

Uttarakhand govt issues advisory to follow Covid prevention guidelines

With an uptick in COVID-19 cases in some states and detection of the first case of its sub variant JN.1 in the country, the Uttarakhand government has issued an advisory to all districts to keep a tab on the situation and strictly adhere to prevention guidelines. However, no case of JN.1 sub variant of the coronavirus has been detected in the state so far, Health Secretary R Rajesh Kumar said. Still, all districts have been asked to strictly follow the operational guidelines for revised surveillance strategy in context of COVID-19, he said. The advisory issued on Tuesday asked district medical authorities to monitor influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory illness (SARI). Influenza and Covid tests of ILI and SARI patients should be conducted and their detalis entered into the Integrated Health Information Platform portal, it said. All hospitals should be readied in terms of arrangements for Covid management, the advisory said. Awareness should also be created amo

Indian exporters cautiously watching respiratory illness in China

Expressing concern over the current influenza situation in China, domestic exporters on Sunday said that they are cautiously watching the situation as any spread of the disease may again hurt global supply chains and impact world trade. They said that the present situation is not alarming but if the illness spreads to other parts of the globe, it will have an impact on world trade as China is a hub of global manufacturing and exports. The government on November 24 stated that India is prepared for any kind of exigency that may emerge from the current influenza situation in China and it is monitoring the outbreak of H9N2 and clusters of respiratory illness in children in that country. There is a low risk to India from the avian influenza, H9N2, cases reported in China as well as the clusters of respiratory illness, the Union health ministry has said. Some media reports indicated a clustering of cases of respiratory illness in children in northern China for which the World Health ...

Health Ministry closely monitoring respiratory illness outbreak in China

The ministry also announced that it is prepared for any kind of exigency that may emerge from the current situation

Centre planning enhanced zoonotic disease surveillance: Health secretary

75 per cent of new infectious diseases are zoonotic in nature, said Health Secy

You may not need fourth shot of Covid-19 vaccine, but a flu shot might help

As flu cases rise in cities, health experts advise the annual flu shot for the vulnerable

Chile detects 1st human case of avian influenza A (H5N1) bird flu

The latest outbreak of H5N1 virus has killed a record number of birds and also spread to otters, sea lions, foxes, dolphins and seals, among others

Jharkhand reports first case of H3N2, five fresh cases of Covid-19

Jharkhand reported its first case of H3N2 influenza, besides five fresh cases of COVID-19, a health department official said on Sunday. A 68-year-old woman, who was admitted to Tata Main Hospital (TMH), Jamshedpur with symptoms of cold and fever on Thursday, tested positive for influenza virus H3N2 on Saturday, the official said. Confirming the report, the Civil Surgeon of East Singhbhum district, Dr Jujhar Manjhi said the victim was kept in an isolation ward and is under observation. The victim did not have any travel history, he said. Meanwhile, state's total active cases of coronavirus reached 10 with five new cases of the disease reported on Saturday. Ranchi and West Singhbhum districts have reported two cases each, while Deoghar registered one case on Saturday. Earlier, Deoghar, East Singhbhum and Latehar districts reported one case each, while Ranchi two, according to Covid bulletin of health department. With addition of fresh cases, Jharkhand's coronavirus caseload rose to

When it comes to infections, mild fever may be better than medicines: Study

It may be better to let a mild fever run its course rather than reaching for medicines, suggests a new animal study which found that slight temperature could help clear infections faster. The study, published in the journal Immunology and Inflammation, shows that a mild fever helped fish clear their bodies of infection rapidly, controlled inflammation and repaired tissue damage. "We let nature do what nature does, and in this case it was very much a positive thing, said immunologist Daniel Barreda, lead author of the study, from the University of Alberta in Canada. "Moderate fever is self-resolving, meaning that the body can both induce it and shut it down naturally without medication," Barreda explained. The researchers noted that health advantages of natural fever to humans still have to be confirmed through research, but because the mechanisms driving and sustaining fever are shared among animals, it is reasonable to expect similar benefits are going to happen in humans. The st

Cough and cold cases up 40%, say NCR docs as they prepare for H3N2

Cases of cough and cold here have increased by about 40 per cent in the last few months

Doctors in UP issue warning against self-medication for H3N2 influenza

With influenza A subtype H3N2 virus claiming two lives in India, one each in Karnataka and Haryana, doctors in Lucknow have urged people to avoid self-medication

Increase precaution, no need to panic: Experts on H3N2 virus deaths

As India confirmed its first two deaths due to the H3N2 influenza virus on Friday, experts called for increased monitoring and precaution measures but also reassured that there is no need to panic yet. In Karnataka, 82-year-old Hire Gowda. a diabetic who suffered from hypertension, died due to the H3N2 seasonal influenza subtype on March 1. Another death, that of a 56-year-old lung cancer patient, was reported from Haryana. From January 2 to March 5, 451 cases of the H3N2 have been reported in the country, according to the data shared by the ministry. It also said it is keeping a close watch on the situation and cases are expected to decline from month end. H3N2 is a non-human influenza virus that normally circulates in pigs and that has infected humans, according to the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Symptoms are similar to those of seasonal flu viruses and can include fever and respiratory symptoms such as cough and runny nose, and possibly other symptoms, ...