Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) An Emerging Threat

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In recent years none other than “Avian Influenza” also called as “Bird flu” or ‘Avian flu” has affracted more attention of the scientists, academicians, journalists, politicians, poultry farmers, and general public alike. Facts of scientific information alon with the myths spread with different explanations and illustrations. Nations are in a state of fear as the virus which casuse the disease threatens to melt borders and spread the wings of death. The severity of the disease is such, to put into the words of borders and spread the wings of death. The severity of the disease is such, to put into the words of Dr. Keiji Fakuda, Head influenza epidemioligist at U.S.Center for Disease Control and Prevention published in The Guardian on August 1999 that, “i’ve been involved in a number of investigations, but in terms of infectious diseases there are a very few comparable events to an influenza pandemic. Most infectious diseases have regional or local implications; even a really devastating disease like malaria is confined to warmer areas. There is probably no other disease like influenza that has the potential to infect a huge percentage of the world population inside the space of year... Idon’t think anybody’s prepared. I don’t think even people in the field really have a good understanding of what it could be like”. A vast information is available on different sources especially websites. But comprehensive and up-to-date information needed by the scientist, veterinarian, public health person as well as general public including poultry farmers is found to be the need of the hour. Considering the necessity, we thought of bringing a text with comprehensive information which may assist local and national health authorities and other stakeholders who consider the needs for preparing for possible incursion of HPAI, to detect the disease at the earliest opportunity and to respond as rapidly as possible to control the disease. This book was therefore conceived along the lines of the noted architect Mies Van der Rohe’s dictum, “less is more”. We have devised this text to present the bare essentials of avian flu in a palatable and interesting form that will enable most general reader to grasp the essence of the topics mentioned in the text. The experience of the authors in tacking routine poultry diseases did enthuse to follow the track of the disease avian influenza through the globe vis-a-vis to Indian conditions, and delivering various lectures on the topic to people with varied backgrounds, the conversation made and the feedback obained from them made the authors to ink for this book. The information is continuous but the basic concept of which is same and thus we are sure that the information in this book will definitely be useful and handy to the readers. The references given along with the websites makes the reader for updating the further information. It is our hope that readers using this text will avoid that choking situation, so common in a topic of this sort and even conceive a curiosity about the topic that will lead to further study.

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s Dr. R N Srinivas Gowda, former Professor and Head, Department of Veterinary Pathology and former Director, Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals, Bangalore, presently working as founder Vice-Chancellor of Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar, Karnataka. He is a graduate of Banagalore Veterinary College with Distinction and Post-graduated at University of Agricultureal Sciences, Banagloare with Gold Medal. Worked as teacher, as extension worker and Professor and Head of the Department of Veterinary Pathology in Veterinary College, Bangalore for a period of 30 years. During his tenure, he has guided 35 Masters, 4 Ph.D.’s and was a member of Advisory committee for 150 students. He has published As disease investigator, he has worked on various species of animals, identified emerging problems and suggested solutions. To his credit he has identified the etiopathology of hydropericardium syndrome in poultry, worked upto molecular level and suggested a suitable vaccine for control and eradication of the disease from the country. As Director of Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals, he was responsible for starting of Southern Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in 2001 and also achieved great recognition for his scientific planning and execution of various projects which lead to the production of newer vaccines. Besides this he has planned to produce one human KFD vaccine also. He was responsible for establishing Regional Diagnostic Laboratories in various districts of the state to diagnose of livestockand poultry. For the first time in the country, an exclusive wildlife disease diagnostic laboratory at National Park, Bennargutta, and Bangalore was planned and established. In recognition of his work he has been called to visit more than 20 countries such as South East Asia, Australia, Europe and UK to participate and present technical papers. He is a recipient of 20 awards of both National and international repute for his contribution. Dr. Y Hari Babu obtained B.V.Sc and M.V.Sc in Veterinary Microbiology, from Andhra Pradesh. Agricultural University, Hyderabad and Ph.D. in Biotechnology, from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological Univeristy, Hyderabad. Did M.B.A in Public Enterprises from Institute of Public Enterprises, Osmania University, Hyderabad; Post-Graduate Diploma in Ecology and Enviorment (PGDEE) from Indian Institute of Ecology and Environment, New Delhi; Post-Graduate Diploma in Bioinformatics (PGDBI) from Bioinformatics Institute of India, Noida. Recipient of Fellow of National Academy of Veterinary Sciences (FNAVS), a prestigious award from Academy of Veterinary Sciences during the year 2006. He has rich experience of 30 years in different capacities in different institutes. Worked in the Department of Animal Husbandry, A.P., Veterinary Biological Research Institute (VBRI), Hyderabad, Oral Polio Vaccine Unit (BIBCOL), Bulandshahar (U.P.). Worked as Professor and Head, Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Veterinary Colege, Bidar. Worked in Animal Health Centres of A.P. incharge of health care of poultry, and was consultant for many poultry hatcheries and farms. Presently working as Dean, Veterinary College, Bidar. He has published more than 85 research, clinical and review articles in National and Interational Journals, out of which most of the articles were on poultry diseases. Revipient of five National Awards. Dr. Y. Hari Babu guided 20 M.V.Sc and 2Ph.D students. He has acted as technical expert for two Doordarshan U.G.C. Programmes. Authored two text bnooks titles. “Veterinary Immunology Basic Concepts and Appkications” and “Hand Book of Basic Immunology and Serological Techniqes”. Table of Contents Introduction History Avian Influenze virus and its characteristics Epidemiology Surveillance of avian influenza Clinical signs and symptoms Source of human infection and transimmion pathology Diagnosis Antiviral agents treatment Vaccines and vaccinations Control and eradication Biosecurity Public health importance Global strategy for the progressive control of HPAI Action Plain in respect ofavian flu