Indian government issues health alerts in wake of bird flu

India's federal government has issued a health advisory to its states, asking them to minimise bird-human interface to prevent an outbreak of bird flu, officials said Wednesday.

"Health secretary CK Mishra has sent an advisory to chief secretaries of all states and union territories in wake of the bird flu," an official said.

The advisory has stressed upon usage of personal protective equipment while handling dead or sick birds, besides surveillance and proper medication of persons exposed to the affected birds.

During the last week birds in New Delhi and Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior zoos were found to have died due to avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu.

Following the scare of bird flu, authorities closed zoos for indefinite period as a precautionary measure for the safety of visitors and to control spread of the influenza.

According to WHO, avian influenza is an infectious viral disease of birds. Most avian influenza viruses do not infect humans. However, some, such as H5N1 and H7N9, have caused serious infections in people.

In May this year authorities closed Delhi zoo for few days after 46 of its spotted deer died of rabies. Endit