H5N1 Avian Influenza

Syllabus- General Studies 3(Science and Technology) Context Recently, the first recorded death due to the bird flu (H5N1 avian influenza) was in Delhi, India in 2021. Bird flu: the disease Bird flu or avian influenza is a disease caused by avian influenza Type A viruses found naturally in wild birds worldwide. The virus can infect domestic poultry including chickens, ducks, turkeys and there have been reports of H5N1 infection among pigs, cats, and even tigers in Thailand zoos. Avian Influenza type A viruses are classified based on two proteins on their surfaces – Hemagglutinin(HA) and Neuraminidase(NA). There are about 18 HA subtypes and....Read More