Hundreds of birds were found dead in different parts of the country as the bird flu spread across at least 10 states and Union Territories. While the Centre confirmed the bird flu cases in 10 states and UTs, it has also assured that there are no scientific reports of the virus' transmission to humans. Stay with IndiaToday.in for LIVE news updates on the bird flu.
While Delhi, Uttarakhand and Maharashtra confirmed bird flu cases on Monday, the other seven states that have had reported deaths due to Avian influenza include Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.
BIRD FLU IN INDIA LIVE UPDATES
9:45 am: UP stops import of birds from neighbouring states
In view of the rising number of deaths due to bird flu, Uttar Pradesh has stopped the import of birds from neighbouring states.
9:04 am: Jaipur zoo closed amid bird flu
The authorities have closed Jaipur zoo amid the bird flu cases. In Rajasthan, 2600 ravens, 190 peacocks, 195 pigeons and nearly 400 other birds have died. Bird flu has so far spread in 16 districts of Rajasthan.
8:12 am: SOPs issued to personnel engaged in treatment of bird flu in Gujarat
Bird Flu cases have been reported from Junagadh, Vadodara, Surat and Valsad districts. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Monday issued SOPs to the administration to take special care of the health officers and employees, besides volunteers of NGOs, engaged in the treatment of birds under this year’s Karuna Abhiyan-2021. The SOPs are as follows:
-- All health personnel on Karuna Abhiyan duty must follow Covid-19 protocols like wearing masks, maintaining social distancing and washing hands with soap or sanitizing as frequently as required.
-- It is compulsory for all personnel during Save Bird ‘Pakshi Bachao’ / Karuna Abhiyan to wear disposable PPE suits and hand gloves.
-- Since the participation of NGO volunteers is desired to tackle the bird flu cases, their number be restricted.
-- NGOs could join the campaign, only if they can provide an adequate number of PPE suits, hand gloves, plastic bags with ziplock, containers to their volunteers, besides having their own transportation facility.
-- Dead birds should be handed over in plastic bags with Ziplock to the nearest Animal Husbandry Department Health Centres.
-- Injured birds should be carefully carried in appropriate containers to be handed over to the nearest Animal Husbandry Health Centres.
-- Containers should be properly sanitized after every use.
In Delhi, the government imposed a ban on the sale of processed and packaged chicken brought from outside the city after testing of samples of crows and ducks confirmed bird flu cases. "Only samples of ducks from Sanjay Lake have tested positive for bird flu. There is no cause for concern. Reports of other samples are awaited," Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said.
Maharashtra, which too confirmed bird flu cases on Monday, saw a review meeting of the government officials over the bird flu cases. All the states have been asked to take measures to stop the spread of bird flu. Stay tuned for LIVE news updates on bird flu.