356 more birds found dead

A total of 356 birds comprising 343 poultry birds have been found dead due to bird flu in Maharashtra. Of the 343 poultry birds, 229 were in Nandurbar, 56 in Nashik, 40 in Amravati and 18 in Jalgaon. The samples are being sent for testing to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal and Disease Investigation Section, Pune.

Of the balance 13 birds, mortality of two other birds like herons, sparrows, parrots and 11 crows has been reported in the state.

According to the department of animal husbandry, 7,37,696 poultry birds including 6,03,392 birds from Navapur in Nandurbar district, 26,65,081 eggs and 72,994 kg poultry feed have been scientifically destroyed within a radius of 1 km from the poultry farm in the infected zones.

The state government has released a compensation of Rs 3.38 crore to the poultry farmers where the culling of poultry birds, disposal of eggs and poultry feed have been carried out in the infected zone for containment of bird flu.

The state government has delegated powers to the district collectors under the provisions of the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009 for the prevention, control and eradication of bird flu.