H5N1 Outbreak in Uttarakhand — Virus ‘Even More Dangerous Than COVID-19,’ Officials Warn

Posted on 21st Aug 2025 by rohit kumar

If we look at the data of the last few years, it is known that many types of infectious diseases have seriously affected the health of people all over the world. Be it the coronavirus spread from China in the last days of the year 2019 or the cases of Nipah-Ebola, all have put additional pressure on health services. In India, too, health experts have been warning everyone about the danger of many types of infectious diseases.

 

According to the latest news, an outbreak of avian influenza (H5N1 virus) has been confirmed in many parts of Uttarakhand. Officials have reported cases of infection in two districts of Uttarakhand - Udham Singh Nagar and Bageshwar. Officials said that samples were tested at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute in Bareilly, which confirmed the presence of the highly infectious H5N1 virus. The death of thousands of chickens in poultry farms in the affected areas has alerted the local authorities.

 

According to media reports, a radius of one kilometer around the affected farm has been sealed. Samples have also been collected from other poultry farms and sent for testing. All people are also being advised to keep taking measures to avoid this serious infection.

 

Alert regarding avian influenza

 

According to reports, employees in the affected areas have been advised to take special care of cleanliness, keep sanitizing their hands. COVID-like strictness is being seen around poultry farms.

 

Health experts consider avian influenza or bird flu infection to be very serious. Bird flu is usually considered to spread infection in chickens and birds, although in the last few years, cows and humans have also been infected with it for the first time. In a report in February this year, a team of researchers also confirmed infection in rats for the first time.

 

The risk of infection has been seen in many countries, including India

 

In recent months, continuous outbreaks of bird flu have been seen in many countries of the world. In July, an increase in bird flu cases in humans was seen in parts of Cambodia. There have been continuous reports of avian influenza from many cities in America and Britain.

 

Talking about India, a rapid increase in cases of bird flu infection was reported in many parts of Maharashtra in February this year.

 

The presence of the H5N1 virus was confirmed in tests conducted after the unexplained death of a large number of chickens here in the last weeks of January.

 

After this, the District Disaster Management Authority declared a radius of 10 kilometers around the affected areas as an 'alert zone' to prevent the spread of infection.

 

This virus is 100 times more contagious than COVID-19

 

Health experts have expressed concern about the possible rapid spread of bird flu, due to which a large number of deaths are also expected. Some experts say that it can be 100 times more contagious and dangerous than COVID-19.

 

Recently, during a briefing on new mutations of bird flu, experts had issued an alert expressing concern about the 'possibility of a new epidemic'. According to scientists, the virus is approaching a point where it can cause a worldwide pandemic.

 

Dr Suresh Kuchipudi, a well-known bird flu expert in Pittsburgh, had warned that H5N1 is now posing a threat to humans as well, and its mortality rate can be very high.

 

The infection can be fatal for humans

 

Experts from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) had already said in a report that mortality due to H5N1 infection in humans can be very high, with more than 50% of people dying from the infection. However, cases in humans are quite rare and usually occur due to direct contact with infected birds.

 

Its symptoms can range from fever and difficulty in breathing to multiple organ failure. So far, there is no recognized vaccine or targeted treatment available to prevent this dangerous infection. The increasing cases of infection and the risks of a possible pandemic have increased both people's concern and the need for a vaccine.