New Delhi: Positive sampling of avian flu from ICAR-NIHSAD in two poultry farms in Panchkula district of Haryana, migratory birds in Junagadh district of Gujarat, and positive samples in ravens in Sawai Madhopur, Pali, Jaisalmer, and Mohar districts of Rajasthan.
After confirmation, the department has suggested to the affected states to act as per the action plan to prevent avian flu disease. So far, the disease has been confirmed in six states (Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Gujarat). It has been learned that the work of killing chickens affected by the disease has been completed in both the affected districts of Kerala. The process of terminating the infection is in progress.
After the bird flu spread across the country, now the death of crows has been stirred up in Delhi too. A case of death of more than 100 crows has been reported in A-2 Central Park located in Mayur Vihar Phase-3, Delhi. As soon as the news of this incident was received, there was a stir in the administration. Immediately, a team of two doctors from the Delhi Government arrived in the park to inspect the spot. The team sent dead crows to the lab for testing. Only when the report is revealed will the real cause of death of the crows be found out.
States unaffected by avian flu have been urged to monitor any abnormal mortality among birds and immediately report this so that necessary measures can be taken expeditiously.
Central teams have been deployed to visit the affected states of Kerala, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh for surveillance and epidemiological investigations.
Unusual deaths of 16 birds have also been reported at DDA Park in Hastaal village, Delhi. The AH department of NCT Delhi has reportedly taken precautionary measures and sent the samples to ICAR-NIHSAD and the investigation report is awaited.
It is important to make poultry farmers and the general public (consumers of eggs and chicken) aware of this disease. The information received from the Secretary (AHD) has been sent to the Ministry of Health to restore consumer confidence regarding the consumption of chicken and eggs. The Ministry of Health has been requested to issue appropriate advice in this regard so that the trust of the consumer affected by the rumors can be restored. Also, states have been requested to raise awareness about the safety of poultry or poultry products that are safe for consumption after boiling cooking, for which central support will be available.