Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: H5N1 Bird Flu
Why in the News?
Bihar is currently facing a bird flu outbreak, yet the state lacks a dedicated testing facility for confirming cases.
What is H5N1 Bird Flu?
- H5N1 (Avian Influenza A) is a highly contagious virus affecting birds and some mammals.
- It was first detected in China in 1996 and has since spread globally, including India.
- In 2020, a highly pathogenic strain emerged, leading to outbreaks in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
Impact of H5N1 on Animals:
- Wild birds, especially endangered species like California condors, have suffered mass casualties.
- The virus previously targeted poultry, but now marine mammals (sea lions, dolphins) and terrestrial mammals (foxes, bears, pumas, minks) are also infected.
- India’s first H5N1 outbreak occurred in Maharashtra and Gujarat in 2015.
Human Risk and Potential Transmission:
- Direct human infections are rare and usually occur through close contact with infected birds.
- Climate change is worsening the spread, altering bird migration patterns and increasing interspecies interactions.
- Human-to-human transmission is uncommon, but experts warn that mutations could make it possible in the future.
PYQ:[2015] H1N1 virus is sometimes mentioned in the news with reference to which one of the following diseases? (a) AIDS (b) Bird flu (c) Dengue (d) Swine flu |
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