Opinion | Are house crows an emerging bird flu threat in South Asia?
Summary
Recent bird flu outbreaks in Nepal, linked to house crows, raise concerns about potential transmission of H5N1 and H9N2 viruses to humans, highlighting the need for better surveillance and prevention strategies.
Key Points
- Hundreds of thousands of poultry were culled in Nepal following avian influenza outbreaks linked to H5N1 and H9N2 subtypes.
- House crows are identified by the Department of Livestock Services as a primary factor in spreading bird flu across Kathmandu valley.
- Deaths of house crows associated with bird flu were reported in Kirtipur and Taudaha, Kathmandu.
- The close proximity of house crows to human settlements poses a potential risk for bird flu virus transmission to humans, necessitating One Health collaborative approaches.
