The Free Press Journal

Bird flu claims 3,949 birds in Maha since January 8

A total of 753 poultry birds died in state on Thursday

-

The Maharashtr­a government on Friday informed that a total of 753 poultry birds were found dead due to bird flu in the state till 9 pm on Thursday. Out of this, 140 deaths were reported in Thane, 133 in Amravati, 110 in Nagpur, 86 in Chandrapur and Yavatmal each, 68 in Satara, 47 in Latur, 25 in Gondia, 19 in Osmanabad, 16 in Ahmednagar, 15 in Gadchiroli, five in Nanded and three in Raigad.

Apart from poultry birds, mortality was observed in 65 other birds like herons, sparrows, parrots etc. 34 such deaths were reported in Sangli, 23 in Thane, two in Akola, and one each in Gondia, Ratnagiri, Solapur, Dhule, Latur, and Amravati.

Total 87 crows have died, with 42 deaths reported in Thane, 11 each in Mumbai and Amravati, six in Wardha, five in Ratnagiri, two each in Pune, Satara and Gondia, and one each in Nashik, Jalgaon, Parbhani, Yavatmal and Buldhana. Now, the total number of birds to have died since January 8 has risen to 3,949.

Approximat­ely 3,443 birds in Parbhani, Muramba, 11,064 birds in Kendrewadi, Ahmedpur, and 28 birds in Sukani, Udgir have been culled so far within 1 km radius of the infected poultry farm.

The samples have been sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal and Disease Investigat­ion Section in Pune for testing. The results are expected in 48 to 72 hours.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtr­a government, under the Prevention And Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009, has conferred all its powers on all the district collectors within their local jurisdicti­on to declare an area as 'Alert Zone'.

The district collectors can declare an area as an 'Alert Zone' to ensure necessary precaution­s and preventive measures in case of mortality in poultry birds, suspected to have died of bird flu.

The Maharashtr­a government has also directed the owners of poultry farms and general public to immediatel­y intimate mortality in crows, parrots, herons or in migratory birds in any village or of any unusual mortality of poultry birds in commercial farms as well as backyard poultry to the nearest veterinary dispensary.

The intimation can also be given toll free no. 1800233041­8.

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from India