Total death count now 6,816

Maharashtra reported the death of 829 birds, including 699 poultry birds, due to Avian Influenza till 5:30pm on Sunday. Apart from poultry birds, such cases were observed in 63 other types of birds, such as herons, sparrows and parrots, amongst others. In addition, a total of 67 crows have died.

The samples have been sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal and Disease Investigation Section in Pune for testing. Now, the total number of deaths since January 8 has risen to 6,816. A central team arrived in Maharashtra on Sunday to monitor the activities undertaken in the affected areas. The results of the examination of the previously sent samples were received last week. The samples from Mumbai, Ghodbander (Thane) and Dapoli for crows and herons and samples of a poultry farm from Muramba (Parbhani) have been found positive for the H5N1 strain and samples of crows from Beed have been found positive for the H5N8 strain.