Context :
The recent case reported in Maharashtra marks the first instance of avian influenza infecting non-avian species, specifically tigers and a leopard.
Relevance: GS 3 ( Biodiversity,Health )
First Case in India:
- Maharashtra reported India’s first case of avian influenza (H5N1) among animals, with three tigers and one leopard dying at a rescue centre in Nagpur in December 2024.
Transmission Concerns:
- Union Animal Husbandry Ministry highlights the species barrier being crossed, as seen in global cases (e.g., U.S. and Vietnam) affecting cattle, goats, and wild animals like tigers.
Infection Source:
- Infection possibly linked to contaminated chicken fed to the animals at the rescue centre.
- Post-mortem samples confirmed avian influenza at the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Bhopal.
Response Measures:
- Quarantine Measures: Infected and symptomatic animals isolated to prevent transmission.
- National Joint Outbreak Response Team: Deployed to implement control protocols.
- Human Screening: Staff involved in treatment and post-mortem are being screened.
Ministry Directives:
- Enhanced biosecurity protocols:
- Affected establishments to be temporarily closed to the public.
- Restricted personnel movement to prevent cross-contamination.
- Thorough disinfection of affected areas.
- Guidelines for handling the situation to be issued within a week.
Government Coordination:
- Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change alerted to collaborate on containment.
Public Reassurance:
- Officials urge there is no need for panic, but vigilance is essential.
Broader Implications:
- Rising risk of zoonotic transmission highlights the need for biosecurity vigilance in animal care facilities.
- Importance of investigating and preventing contamination in animal food supply chains.
