India has declared itself free from avian influenza (H5N1), commonly known as bird flu. The Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries has declared India free from avian influenza from September 5, 2016.

• Avian influenza is a disease occurring among birds that particularly affects domestic poultry such as chickens, turkeys and ducks. The virus can also infect humans causing death in some cases.

• The last outbreak of bird flu notified in India was in May this year at Humnabad, Bidar district, Karnataka. There has been no further outbreak reported in the country thereafter.

• The control measures adopted in the radius of one kilo meter around the outbreak location included stamping out of entire poultry population including destruction of eggs, feed, litter and other infected materials, restriction on movement of poultry and poultry products to and from the area of outbreak, disinfection and cleaning up of infected premises and following a post operation surveillance plan from June, the release stated. Surveillance was carried out throughout the country.

• The declaration that India is free from avian influenza has been notified to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the global inter-governmental organisation coordinating, supporting and promoting animal disease control.

• In a letter to the State Chief Secretaries, the Centre has emphasised the need for continued surveillance, especially in the vulnerable areas bordering infected countries and in areas visited by migratory birds.