Question: Which country was recently declared itself as Avian Influenza (H5N1) Free Country?
(a) Nepal
(b) United states of America
(c) India
(d) United Kingdom
Ans: (c)
Related facts:
- On 14 September 2016 In a notification, the ministry of agriculture has said that The Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries in the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers welfare has declared India free from Avian Influenza (H5N1) from 5th September, 2016.
- India had notified outbreak of Avian Influenza (H5N1) on 09.05.2016 at Humnabad, Bidar district, Karnataka. There has been no further outbreak reported in the country thereafter.
- In a letter to the State Chief Secretaries the Center has emphasized the need for continued surveillance especially in the vulnerable areas bordering infected countries and in areas visited by migratory birds.
About Avian influenza - H5N1 is an avian (bird) flu virus that has caused outbreaks in domestic poultry in parts of Asia and the Middle East. Because H5N1 is so deadly to poultry, it is considered “highly pathogenic,” or highly disease causing.
- Most avian influenza viruses do not infect humans; however some, such as A(H5N1) and A(H7N9), have caused serious infections in people.
- Outbreaks of AI in poultry may raise global public health concerns due to their effect on poultry populations, their potential to cause serious disease in people, and their pandemic potential.
- Reports of highly pathogenic AI epidemics in poultry, such as A(H5N1), can seriously impact local and global economies and international trade.
- The majority of human cases of A(H5N1) and A(H7N9) infection have been associated with direct or indirect contact with infected live or dead poultry.
- There is no evidence that the disease can be spread to people through properly cooked food.
- Controlling the disease in animals is the first step in decreasing risks to humans.
Reference:
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=149767