Context

India has declared itself free from Avian Influenza (H5N1), commonly called bird flu.

About

• Avian Influenza was first reported from Hongkong in 1997.
• H5N1 is a type of virus which is highly infectious in birds, and causes avian influenza or bird flu. Human cases of H5N1 are closely linked to infections from live or dead birds that have H5N1.
• The symptoms of an H5N1 infection in humans include mild upper respiratory tract infection (fever and cough), early sputum production and rapid progression to severe pneumonia.
• It can lead to sepsis with shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome and even death.