India declared itself free from the highly contagious avian influenza (H5N1) or bird flu from 5 September 2016. 
•    The declaration was made by the Department of Animal Husbandry under the Agriculture Ministry.
•    The Department in a statement said that it had notified the same to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). 
•    The outbreak of the avian influenza was notified on 9 May 2016 at Humnabad, Bidar district, Karnataka. 
•    In areas on the one-kilometre radius of the outbreak location, the government took measures, including culling, disinfection and clean-up, to contain the spread of avian influenza.
•    Bird flu affects mainly the domestic poultry. 
•    The disease spreads from infected birds to other winged creatures through contact with nasal and respiratory secretions and also due to contamination of feed and water.
•    Avian influenza (AI) is an infectious viral disease of birds. 
•    Highly pathogenic viruses result in high death rates (up to 100% mortality within 48 hours) in some poultry species. 
•    Low pathogenicity viruses also cause outbreaks in poultry but are not generally associated with severe disease. 
 

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