JAIPUR: Bird flu scare continues to haunt the state as 329 more birds were found dead on Friday, including 46 in Jhalawar, 44 in Chittorgarh and 37 in Jaipur.
The department of animal husbandry, however, didn’t claim that the deaths were due to bird flu, but since the flu cases have been confirmed from across the state, every bird death is being treated under the bird flu protocol. The number of bird deaths has jumped to 2,166 since December 26.
Reports said almost two-third of the casualties was reported among sparrows, while none among the migratory birds has been found dead in the last 24 hours. Officials said they have intensified the sample collection of birds from across the state by forming several teams for the same.
“The sites where birds were dying in huge numbers are put on high alert. Some of the areas have been identified where mass deaths have been reported. Samples from these areas are being sent to the laboratory for further examination,” said an official. Most of the mortalities are being reported from Jhalawar, while Chittorgarh has started reporting cases, which is a cause of concern for officials.
Dr Lenin Bhatt of the animal husbandry department said that they have started taking samples from water bodies with presence of over 1,000 birds. “It is being done to ensure that nothing is left out in the state,” said Bhatt, who ruled out any possibility of bird flu among the poultry birds.