Climatic conditions, farming habits, migratory patterns and precautions taken by the Central government ensure that India faces no threat of the bird flu. The Union Government’s department of animal husbandry (DAB) and the Indian Council of Medical Research, (ICMR) have adopted several precautionary measures over the last four years and the two agencies are keeping a constant watch at the entry points of migratory ducks and humans from Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Nepal and carry out regular and random tests of blood samples on both birds and humans.

In addition, the Central Poultry Development Organisations (CPDOs) under the Union Government are also on the alert to the entry of wild birds. “The poultry and avian farm areas are fenced and an internal vigil system is maintained on the movement of people, livestock, commercial birds and parent stock,” said Dr. N. Rajeshwar Rao, director, CPDO.

In any case, high temperatures and humid climatic conditions reduce the chances of bird flu breakout in India.

Officials from the department of animal husbandry stated that there is no migration of wild ducks in the country. Although 6 to 7 per cent of wild ducks migrate to various parts of the world, the concentration is highest in the western countries. Another point is that in India, all the poultry farms are located away from water bodies. In terms of hygiene and bio-security standards, Indian poultry sector, both organised and unorganised, either bury or burn the dead birds in the backyards and not dispose them into the water bodies.

The prevalence of bird flu is highest in the South East Asian countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Laos where poultry and piggeries co-exist with human population leading to an unhygienic and unhealthy system. This makes both birds and humans easy target to be attacked by the virus.

According to the scientific data available, India has a relatively low chance of H5N1 bird flu entering the country and there need not be any fears about its outbreak. The latest statistics on the epidemic state that of the 64 cases reported globally, 60 cases are in Vietnam.

In Karnataka, the private poultry farms have already taken precautionary measures adhering to international hygiene standards. In addition, there are two well-equipped national diagnostic labs for poultry and avian life at Bhopal and the Institute of Biological Studies in Hebbal, Bangalore for the southern region. While the former can detect the virus within 24 hours, the latter can do it is within 48 hours.

In 1992, the country experienced IBD (Infectious Bursal Disease), which originated in Nepal and was controlled using the IBD vaccine. Even now the birds are given this vaccine.