NEW DELHI: The scare of avian influenza or bird flu spread to different parts of the country on Friday.
The Centre held a meeting with the states to understand the status of the outbreak of avian influenza. It also suggested measures to states/UTs for control and prevent the spread of the disease.
So far, six states have confirmed the presence of bird flue — Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Gujarat. In Haryana, over 1.60 lakh birds will be culled after a sample tested positive.
In the national capital, the deaths of 20 crows in the last few days have created panic among the residents. Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said that there is no case of bird flu in Delhi yet. The minister asked officials to keep a close watch on poultry birds coming in from neighbouring states to prevent any infection.
The Centre had on Wednesday said avian influenza or bird flu outbreak has been reported at 12 epicentres in Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, while Haryana is on high alert due to unusual mortality at poultry farms in Panchkula.
In Haryana, over 1.60 lakh birds of five poultry farms in Panchkula district are set to be culled as some poultry samples there have tested positive for the avian flu, agriculture minister JP Dalal said.
“Five poultry samples of Siddharth Poultry Farm at Raipur Rani block in Panchkula were found positive for the H5N8 strain of avian flu. It is an influenza virus,” Dalal said while talking to reporters. Similarly, the samples of some birds from Nature Poultry farm at Panchkula too tested positive, he said.
Panchkula's Barwala-Raipur Rani area is one of the largest poultry belts in the country with 70-80 lakh birds in more than 100 farms. Over four lakh poultry birds had died at some farms in Haryana's Panchkula district over the past several days. The mortality rate in poultry birds was unusually high in this winter season.
Several states that are still unaffected by bird flue have been requested to keep a vigil on any unusual mortality amongst birds and to report immediately so that necessary measures are taken in the fastest possible time.
(With inputs from agencies)