Now, avian influenza cases confirmed in Navi Mumbai

At least six samples from two poultry forms in Navi Mumbai tested positive for avian influenza. The veterinary official of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has confirmed it. The samples were sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune on January 25, of which the report were received on Sunday.

Dr Vaibhaw Zhunzhare, veterinary official, NMMC said that the samples collected from the two poultry forms in Mhape and Ghansoli have been found positive for H5N1. The report received on Saturday evening was shared to the Thane district collector.

Abhijit Bangar, the municipal commissioner of NMMC said that report was shared with the district collector as a notification to cull the birds is issued by him only. “All the birds within a radius of one km of the farms are being culled,” said Bangar. He added that by Sunday evening around 250 birds had already been culled.

Bangar also informed that people who were in direct contact of birds in the poultry farms are being screened to check their health condition. In the second week of January, around 10 birds were found dead and they were sent for a test for which the report is awaited. Soon after that, the civic body had issued an advisory regarding dos and don’ts.