Viruses that transmit through birds, especially chicken, were first found to be lethal for human beings in 1997, when a strain of bird flu called H5N1 was discovered in Hong Kong. And now, China is in the news again for a possibly new strain of virus. This strain, called H7N9, has already infected more than 105 people, and 21 have lost their lives to this epidemic. Though the current strain of bird flu in China was not detected until last month, it has already claimed more lives than the previous strains did in entire decade in China. Infection of people who have not come into contact with chicken, and infections of a cluster of people together—husband and wife, brother and sister—has led to speculation that the virus may be able to transmit from one person to another. Combined with the fact that this strain of the virus is proving more difficult to detect than earlier ones, H7N9 threatens to be far more deadly than previously known bird flu.
There should be no doubt: bird flu is dangerous and deadly. It spreads easily, it has had a 53 percent mortality rate in the people it is known to have infected, and once it spreads, it spares none. In this context, it is very important that poultry farmers and businesspersons act responsibly and take effective measures to prevent this from spreading further. For example, when bird flu was earlier discovered approximately a month ago in Bharatpur and barely a week ago in Chitwan, a large number of poultry were culled, and tons of feed destroyed at significant loss to the poultry farmers. Poultry farmers and government authorities need to be appreciated for acting to protect public health despite the huge personal losses it must have incurred.
In contrast, bird flu was also recently discovered again in Jhapa, but the farmers were found to have dumped the chicken in Aduwa River instead of informing the concerned authority. Veterinarians’ test showed that all of these birds were infected. The officers even confirmed that sometimes locals have been found to be selling infected birds. Research tells us that close proximity to live birds infects humans even more easily than contact with dead birds. Businesspersons who continue to live in close proximity to these birds hoping to sell them soon are endangering their own lives. They are being irresponsible not just towards the society, but also towards themselves and their close ones. They may overlook this danger at the cost of their own health risks.
When chickens start dying suddenly, poultry farmers should bring them to the notice of authorities.
Because an outbreak of bird flu inflicts huge losses on poultry farmers, who must destroy all their stock, the government has been providing compensation to farmers so afflicted. Animal Health Directorate has distributed Rs. 10 million to poultry farmers over the last four years. This praiseworthy step by the government should provide the necessary incentive for poultry farmers to act conscientiously for the sake of public health. When chickens start dying suddenly of mysterious causes, poultry farmers should consider it their duty to bring them to the notice of authorities instead of dumping their stock anonymously. It goes without saying that infected birds must not be sold at any cost, and officials at borders and checkpoints must be especially vigilant for signs of bird flu among imported chickens. It is imperative that all possible measures be taken to halt the spread of bird flu before it infects more and more humans.
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