Bird flu or Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is an infectious viral disease of birds caused by an RNA type virus belonging to orthomyxoviridae family. This virus has the property to change its antigenic structure through shift or drift in nucleotide sequences and hence create difficulty to immune system to overcome its infection. This also poses a great difficulty in preparation of vaccine against flu virus because a vaccine developed today against a particular flu virus may not be effective few days/months after because of alteration in the antigenic composition of the virus. Because of the nature of the virus, it is very difficult to prevent and control the outbreak of flu and most of the time the only alternative remains with the vets to cull out all the stock of host so that virus may not survive in the area. That's what had been done in most of the parts of the world including India to successfully contain the disease in birds. It is a natural phenomenon in viruses; no body has control on it except nature. However, it requires susceptible population to attack which is readily provided by modern society. If we see the development particularly in the area of animal husbandry we find very high growth of production of milk, meat, eggs, etc. from animals and birds. Whenever production increases in animals and birds; most of the time it makes them susceptible to a number of pathogens. With overall decrease in immunity of the animals and birds, such kind of infection will raise their ugly heads again and again. For the control of such situation, the answer lies in natural products derived from plants or Panchgavya which can enhance the immunity of body to make the animals and birds comparatively more resistant and refractory to infectious disease. In this direction cowpathy (Panchgavya) products particularly cow urine products may play a vital role. The preliminary studies carried out at different institutions in India suggest in immunopotentiating effect of Indigenous cow urine. However, it requires a lot of research for its validation and further use in field. If it is proved successful, it will find a genuine answer to such infections through enhancement of body resistance and thereby decreasing the susceptibility of animals and birds. Since, it will enhance the immunity of individual, it will take care of each and every infection and hence it is known as “Biovaccine” with a single formulation to control most of the diseases in animals and birds. Let us know your views on the present issue of the journal.

– Editor