Context:
Etawah Safari Park in Uttar Pradesh, recognized for hosting the largest population of Asiatic lions in India, has been temporarily closed to visitors due to concerns related to a potential avian influenza outbreak.
More on News:
- The highest level of protocol has been implemented. Zoos in Lucknow, Kanpur, and Gorakhpur districts, along with the lion safari in Etawah, will remain closed for a week
- Tiger reserves across the state have also been instructed to stay on high alert.
- Senior forest officials directed reserve staff to closely monitor animal behavior and immediately report any signs of illness or death.
- The potential threat posed by H5N1 avian influenza (bird flu), Chief Minister convened a high-level meeting and instructed authorities to maintain the highest level of vigilance in all zoos across the state.
- The decision to shut down the zoos was made following confirmation from the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal, which, in a lab report released, identified the presence of the virus strain in the tigress at Gorakhpur Zoo.
About H5N1 Influenza:
- It has descended from a virus that caused an outbreak on a goose farm in Guangdong, China, in 1996.
- There are 4 types of influenza viruses, types A, B, C and D.
- Influenza A and B viruses circulate and cause seasonal epidemics of disease in humans although only type A viruses can cause global pandemics based on current knowledge and understanding.
- Influenza type A subtype H5N1 can cause an illness known as ‘avian influenza’ or ‘bird flu’ because it is a highly contagious severe respiratory disease which primarily infects birds and has a high mortality rate, especially in poultry.
- India has a large reserve of livestock, wild population and domestic poultry making up for almost 18% of the world stock. India is at “risk and vulnerable”, to the worst-ever outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) worldwide.
- Seasonal flu vaccines are not effective against bird flu. A vaccine that could provide protection (Prepandrix) has been cleared for use in the European Union.