Centre sends out bird flu alert

With the WHO alert on bird flu ringing out in Thailand and Vietnam, where six children have died of the disease so far, the Health Ministry has alerted all state governments to check fowl population to stem the possibility of an outbreak.

The virus, influenza a-h5n1, is a new one and nothing is known of its mode of transmission.‘‘The virus is like the SARS virus, nobody knows how the virus is transmitted to humans and no antibiotics or treatment is known so far. We don’t want to be caught off guard,’’ a senior Health Ministry official said.

Vets have been asked to report any ‘‘large number of deaths’’ among chicken as this is the first sign of spread of the virus. The government says it is prepared to identify the virus in its laboratories, specifically the four animal husbandry laboratories in Gwalior. ‘‘If the flu is found in birds we have to make sure it doesn’t spread to humans, that’s why birds need to be observed first. At the same time, hospitals have also been put on alert,’’ the official said.