Bird Flu in Maharashtra: 307 poultry birds reported dead

MUMBAI: A total of 307 poultry birds were found dead due to bird flu in Maharashtra. Of the 307 birds, as high as 259 died in Nandurbar, 31 in Jalgaon, 12 in Amravati and five in Nashik. The samples are being sent for testing to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal and Disease Investigation Section, Pune. According to the Department of Animal Husbandry, no mortality was reported in herons, sparrows, parrots and crows in the state.

So far, 7,89,774 poultry birds, including 6,55,259 birds from Navapur in Nandurbar district, 30,00,308 eggs and 74,394 kg poultry feed have been scientifically culled and disposed within a radius of 1 km from the poultry farm in the infected zones.

The government has released a compensation of Rs 3.38 crore where the culling of poultry birds and the disposal of eggs and poultry feed have been carried out in the infected zones to contain 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 the disease. Poultry farmers have been urged to follow strict biosecurity measures. Chicken shop proprietors are strictly directed to use gloves and a mask to cover the mouth and nose. They have also been asked to follow hygiene practices in the shop and to maintain social distance. -