Bird flu panic in NE Indian state of Agartala
New Delhi, Jan 5, IRNA -- Alarm was raised over a possible outbreak of bird flu in Tripura, capital of India's northeastern state Agartala, following the death of more than 600 poultry in Dhalai district of the state in the past three days.
Blood samples of infected chickens have been collected for test, while antidote was administered to other fowls to arrest the spread of the virus, PTI news agency quoted officials as saying in its report.
Tripura was first hit by bird flu in 2008 when 50,000 birds were culled at Mohanpur and in neighbouring areas, about 50 km from Agartala.
Bird flu is flu infection in birds. The virus that causes the bird infection can change (mutate) to infect humans. Such mutation could start a deadly worldwide epidemic.
The first avian influenza virus to infect humans occurred in Hong Kong in 1997. The epidemic was linked to chickens and classified as avian influenza A (H5N1).
Symptoms of avian flu infection in humans depend on the strain of virus. Infection with the H5N1 virus in humans causes typical flu-like symptoms, which might include cough, diarrhea, difficulty in breathing, high fever, headache, malaise muscle aches runny nose and sore throat.
In general, treatment with the anti-viral medication oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza) may make the disease less severe if you start taking the medicine within 48 hours after your symptoms start.
Oseltamivir may also be prescribed for persons who live in the same house as those diagnosed with avian flu.
http://www.irna.ir/ENNewsShow.aspx?NID=30751063
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