NEW DELHI: With cases of avian influenza being reported from different states, the Centre on Wednesday alerted local authorities to mount surveillance on 12 epicentres, including the highest four in Kerala where thousands of birds died in the past few days, and asked them to step up containment measures.
Though there are no reported human cases of avian influenza in India till date, the health ministry asked states to take all measures to prevent its spread saying the infection is highly pathogenic and can transmit to humans.
“It is absolutely critical that measures for effective containment among bird/poultry population and active surveillance in human population has to be ensured,” said health secretary Rajesh Bhushan in his letter to state chief secretaries. The ministry has deployed multi-disciplinary teams at Alappuzha and Kottayam districts in Kerala, and Panchkula in Haryana.