New Delhi, Feb. 28 -- After the detection of avian influenza (H5N1) in three pet cats and a live bird market in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, last month, the Union government has implemented stringent public health measures to contain the outbreak.

The Union health ministry had directed the state government to start control and containment operations in line with the 'Action Plan of Animal Husbandry for Prevention, Control, and Containment of Avian Influenza' (2021).

As part of these measures, all birds in the affected live bird market were culled and the market was closed for 21 days from the day the sanitisation certificate was issued. Also, necessary actions outlined in the Contingency Plan (2005) of the Ministry of Health and Family W...