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India has declared itself free from Avian Influenza (H5N8 and H5N1) from 6^thJune, 2017 and notified the same to World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

• All the outbreaks of Avian Influenza (HPAI) were notified to OIE and the control and containment operations were carried out as per the Action Plan on Preparedness, Control and Containment of Avian Influenza.
• Surveillance was carried out throughout the country and around the areas of the outbreaks since completion of the operation (including culling, disinfection and clean-up).
• These surveillance in the states showed no evidence of presence of Avian Influenza Virus.

How the move help ?

• The move will help it resume export of poultry products to the countries which had banned trade in such items early this year.
• The countries which banned Indian poultry products, include United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Hong Kong.

World Organisation for Animal Health

• An intergovernmental organization coordinating, supporting and promoting animal disease control.
• The main objective of the OIE is to control epizootic diseases and thus to prevent their spread.
• It is recognized as a reference organisation by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and in 2014 had a total of 181 member states.
• The OIE maintains permanent relations with 45 other international and regional organisations and has Regional and sub-regional Offices on every continent.
• The OIE does not depend on the UN syste, its autonomy is both institutional and financial and its activities are governed by its own constitutional texts.

Avian influenza

• Avian Influenza known avian flu or bird flu refers to influenza caused by viruses adapted to birds.

  

• These viruses occur naturally among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species.
• Avian flu viruses do not normally infect humans, infected birds shed avian influenza virus in their saliva, mucous and feces.
• Human infections with bird flu viruses can happen when enough virus gets into a person’s eyes, nose or mouth, or is inhaled.
• This can happen when virus is in the air and a person breathes it in, or when a person touches something that has virus on it then touches their mouth, eyes or nose.

Source : Pib

GS II : Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources