What is Ranikhet Disease, and why are people clamouring for it to be renamed?
The disease, which can be mild, moderate or acute, attacks the avian families in multiple ways with issues relating to respiration, nervous system and digestion surfacing, and leading to the disease spreading rapidly among the flock
Hyderabad: Ranikhet Disease (RD), also known as Newcastle Disease (ND), is an extremely contagious disease that affects domestic poultry – including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, besides pigeons, guinea-flows, pheasants, and geese.
Newcastle disease got its name first in the year 1926, when a case of a contagious viral infection that affected the poultry on a farm in Newcastle, UK, was reported. Later, when the same kind of viral strain Paramyxovirus type1 (genus: Avulavirus, family: Paramyxoviridae) was found to have affected the poultry in Ranikhet in the then northern Uttar Pradesh (now Uttarakhand).
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How is the poultry affected? Find out some common symptoms
The disease, which can be mild, moderate or acute, attacks the avian families in multiple ways:
* Respiratory system gets attacked, leading to gasping, breathlessness, sneezing, and coughing.
* The disease spreads rapidly among the flock of birds in a poultry farm.
* Usually, the birds start showing symptoms between two and 12 days.
* There’s a noticeable drop in egg production as well.
* Nervous system gets affected with common visible symptoms such as twisting of neck, paralysis of wings and legs.
* Facial edema and diarrhoea are other symptoms.
* High mortality rates is a major concern as the disease spreads fast.
How does the virus spread?
* The virus gets shed during the incubation, clinical and recuperation stages, leading to the disease spreading to other birds in the poultry farm.
* The carcass of the birds that died due to acute virulent infection, if not removed immediately, is another major reason.
* The virus may be present in eggs laid by affected birds.
* The virus is carried over through the air circulated during respiration, discharges during sneezing, and faeces.
* Contaminated bird feed/feeders, water bowls, poultry products, and equipment can lead to further spreading.
What can be done to prevent it?
As infected birds are the reason for the quick spread of the virus, the first and foremost important prevention method is to fumigate the buildings (and/or the incubators) and the farms where the poultry is kept.
* Heat, pH effects, irradiation are believed to destroy the virus.
* Chemical compounds such as potassium permanganate, formalin, and ethanol can also mitigate the affect by killing the virus.
* Vaccination, keeping the premises clean, healthy and secure for the birds can check the contamination.
* Regular disinfection of farm premises, products and equipment with heat treatment methods or usage of chemical compounds will prevent the disease to a large extent.
Does it have an effect on humans?
Yes, it does. As the virus has zoonotic effect, it is found to survive for several days on the mucous membrane of the human respiratory tract, and can even lead to deaths among the human populace.
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What’s in a name? Everything, say residents of Ranikhet
Shakespeare may have felt there was nothing in a name, but residents of Ranikhet seems to feel differently about it. For many years now, people have been objecting to the use of the name Ranikhet, a beautiful tourist destination in the lap of the Himalayas, for a disease.
In 2024, the Uttarakhand High Court asked the State to come up with a new name for RD as the people residing there feel that the name denigrates the fame of their picturesque hometown. Citing its negative impact on tourism, a PIL was filed and was admitted by the High Court, which has asked the Central government to come up with alternative name suggestions for the disease.
Why is Ranikhet (the place) famous?
The picturesque town of Ranikhet in Uttarakhand is renowned for its pleasant weather and breath-taking views of the Himalayan ranges. Known for its umpteen temples and stunning sunset points, Ranikhet is located about 50 kilometres from Almora, and around 30 kilometres from Nainital.
Some of its major tourist attractions include Kumaon Regimental Centre Museum, Bhalu Dam, Rani Jheel, and the huge golf course with its alluring landscapes, Chaubatia, Naukachia Taal.
The town is also known for many temples such as Jhula Devi Temple, Swargashram Binsar Mahadev Mandir, Mankameshwar Temple, Kalika Temple, Haidakhan Babaji Temple, and Ram Mandir, among others.
The lovely Nainital Lake and the famous Naina Devi Temple are situated about 28 kilometres away and takes less than two hours to reach by road. Jageshwar Dham, about 40 kilometres away, is another major attraction in the vicinity of Ranikhet.