Let IVRI focus solely on bird flu tests, says CM
LUCKNOW : Laying emphasis on the need for being fully alert in view of bird flu cases in some other states, UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday directed officials to immediately relieve the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Bareilly of all the Covid-related responsibilities so that the institute could focus solely on bird flu tests.
Holding a high-level meeting here with different departments, he said a large number of migratory birds fly to Prayagraj every winter.
“High vigil needs to be maintained in Prayagraj as Magh Mela is going to be organised,” the CM said.
He asked officials to make wide publicity, urging devotees not to feed corn to birds.
He also said that the ongoing animal vaccination programme should be intensified.
Meanwhile, director, animal husbandry (animal disease) RP Singh claimed that UP was keeping a close watch on the situation arising from the spread of bird flu in some states, but poultry imports from other states had not been banned considering the fact that UP had not reported any case so far.
“We are on alert and collecting samples. But we have not found any flu symptoms in any bird so far,” he added.
Uttar Pradesh forest department spokesman Mukesh Kumar Singh said no ban had been imposed on any of the bird sanctuaries in the state.
The bird flu scare, following the surfacing of the disease in some states, had gripped parts of Lucknow with chicken meat and egg sellers complaining a 30% drop in sales.
So far, bird flu cases were reported in Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
Dilshad Qureshi, a chicken seller at Udaiganj, Lucknow said, “Sales have dropped considerably despite dip in rates. Chicken meat is now selling at Rs 140 per kg. It was Rs 180 to 200 per kg last week.”
Manjeet Singh, a wholesaler of eggs in Alambagh, said: “Sale of eggs has also dropped by about 20%. In Lucknow, around 2.5 to 3 lakh eggs are sold daily. But according to our reports, the sale has dropped to 2 lakh eggs daily.”