Bird flu is often transmitted to poultry by way of migratory birds, stated AIIMS chief. (File)
New Delhi:
As the nation reported the primary confirmed case of human demise on account of avian influenza, AIIMS chief Dr Randeep Guleria on Wednesday stated that human-to-human transmission of the H5N1 virus could be very uncommon and there’s no must panic.
However, there’s a must do contact tracing and likewise take samples and search for any poultry deaths within the space from the place the kid who died because of the virus was residing, the AIIMS director instructed PTI.
A 12-year-old boy from Haryana, who was contaminated with the H5N1 virus, lately died at AIIMS Delhi. The National Institute of Virology, Pune had confirmed the an infection, Dr Guelria stated.
“The transmission of the virus from birds to humans is rare and sustained human-to-human transmission of the H5N1 virus has not yet been established and therefore there is no need to panic.
“But then folks working carefully with poultry should take precautionary measures and preserve correct private hygiene,” Dr Guleria said.
Dr Neeraj Nischal, an associate professor in the Department of Medicine at AIIMS, said avian influenza or bird flu is predominately a zoonosis, and there is no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission so far.
“Although few remoted household clusters have been reported, transmission in these clusters might have occurred by way of frequent publicity and in uncommon state of affairs a really shut bodily contact; there isn’t a proof of human-to-human transmission through small-particle aerosols,” he said.
“Serologic surveys haven’t discovered proof of asymptomatic infections amongst contacts of lively instances and nosocomial transmission to healthcare staff has not been documented,” Dr Nischal said.
“There isn’t any want to fret if one is consuming correctly cooked poultry merchandise. There isn’t any proof to this point that it may be unfold to folks by way of correctly cooked meals. The virus will get destroyed when the meals is cooked at excessive temperature. One ought to keep away from contact with contaminated poultry, particularly ailing or dying chickens,” he said.
Dr Guleria said in the past when H5N1 avian flu influenza cases were reported from poultry, culling of poultry in those areas has been done to prevent the spread of infection and tackle it early.
The H5N1 is usually transmitted to poultry through migratory birds, he said.
People who work in close contact with poultry are at high risk of getting the infection, Dr Guleria added.
An AIIMS source had said the 12-year-old boy was admitted to AIIMS on July 2 with pneumonia and leukaemia. He died on July 12. While undergoing treatment, tests for COVID-19 and influenza were conducted.
“His samples examined destructive for COVID-19. It got here out optimistic for influenza however was non-typable. It was despatched to National Institute of Virology, Pune, the place they confirmed it to be optimistic for H5N1 avian influenza,” the supply had stated.
Details of the case have been conveyed to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and their staff has began surveillance and get in touch with tracing and to see if there are any extra instances with comparable signs with whom the kid has are available contact, sources stated.
Meanwhile, all workers at AIIMS who have been uncovered to the lifeless individual have been requested to watch themselves for any signs of flu and report back to the authorities instantly.
In January, some states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Chhattisgarh culled poultry birds after the illness was reported.
According to the WHO, nearly all instances of H5N1 an infection in folks have been related to shut contact with contaminated dwell or lifeless birds, or H5N1-contaminated environments.
Currently obtainable epidemiologic info suggests the virus doesn’t infect people simply, and unfold from individual to individual seems to be uncommon. When folks do turn into contaminated, the mortality price is about 60 per cent.
According to the World Health Organisation poultry and poultry merchandise will be ready and consumed as common, with no worry of buying an infection with the avian flu virus.
One ought to proceed to comply with good hygienic and cooking practices. The virus is destroyed at a temperature of 70 levels C for half-hour. After dealing with poultry and eggs, one ought to clear fingers and different uncovered components, it stated.
