Public Health Response to First Avian Influenza (H5N1) Outbreak Among Felids in Maharashtra, India, December 2024–January 2025
- Presentation Day/Time: Wednesday, April 22, 9:05 AM
- Presenter: Arzoo Meshram, MD, Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) Resident
The Issue
- Avian influenza H5N1 continues to pose a major challenge to animal and human health. In late 2024, three leopards and a tiger who lived in a zoological park in Maharashtra died of H5N1, the first such occurrence in India.
What We Did
- We conducted an epidemiological investigation to identify the source of H5N1 among the animals and assess spillover to humans.
What We Found
- Spillover of H5N1 was detected in wildlife but not to humans. Delayed notification of animal deaths, inconsistent use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and poor implementation of quarantine practices among animal handlers was observed.
What This Means
- We recommend strengthening surveillance through prompt notifications, consistent use of PPE by handlers, and routine investigations of wildlife and poultry deaths to mitigate zoonotic risks.
