International Desk: India is in a state of turmoil due to coronavirus epidemic. In the meantime, an outbreak of avian influenza or bird flu has posed a new challenge. . India's Environment Minister has issued a nationwide warning after hundreds of thousands of poultry died of the virus. Five states so far have reported to the controll room set up by Union government.

In the last 10 days, 4 lakh chickens have died in Panchkula district of Haryana. However, the government has not yet confirmed the bird flu outbreak.

The matter is under investigation. Anticipating the danger, the Tamil Nadu government has set up 26 checkposts on the Kerala border to monitor the supply of poultry and poultry products. Thousands of birds have died across India in the last 10 days. Already in multiple states bird flu is spreading in an alarming rate.

Bird flu is also called avian influenza. So far, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan have the highest incidence of bird flu. On Tuesday alone, the bodies of around 24,000 ducks and other birds were recovered in Kerala alone. The first H5N7 strain of avian influenza virus was detected in Kottayam.

Four areas in Kerala have so far been identified as bird flu centers. After Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday confirmed bird flu outbreaks.

Allready 27,000 swans have died in the Kangra town area. Kangra has been identified as a bird flu center in Himachal Pradesh.

Besides, 4 lakh poultry have died in the last 10 days in Haryana's Panchkula district alone. In areas where bird flu warnings have been issued.Trade and supply of poultry, fish, eggs and other poultry products have been suspended.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday called an emergency meeting to look into the situation in the state. The National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, which collected samples from the bodies of hundreds of crows after they died in Indore at the same time, matched the H5N7 strain in the test report.

Birdflu comes to India through migratory birds during winter season.

Bird flu is zoonotic- have chances to be spreaded from animals to human. However, there is no reported case of human infection yet.