More than 1,000 bird deaths were documented on Tuesday in India as states stepped up efforts to fight avian influenza. Bird flu has been verified in Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Gujarat so far, the Centre said on Friday and asked these states to prevent the disease.
States unmoved by Avian Influenza (AI) have been asked to keep a watch on any unusual mortality among birds and to record instantly so that necessary measures are taken rapidly. The Centre announced that it has sent an expert team to visit epicenters of the outbreak in Gujarat and Maharashtra.
In Himachal Pradesh, 280 migratory waterbirds were found lifeless in the Pong Dam Lake area in Kangra district, bringing the total number of bird deaths in the state to 4,637. Their specimens have been sent for testing.
The total number of bird deaths in Rajasthan has taken up by 626 to 3,947.
Cases of the disorder have been verified in 16 of the state’s districts. In Uttar Pradesh, 74 birds were found deceased in the past 24 hours.
An anonymous number of crows, herons, and mynas were found dead in Jharkhand’s Dumka district. Meanwhile, the administration of Maharashtra’s Latur district requested the culling of birds after specimens obtained from Sukni and Kendrewadi villages tested positive for the virus.
On Tuesday, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying asserted that states have been handed out an advisory on testing procedure. They have also been motivated to begin screening and to keep sufficient stocks of personal guarding equipment for culling strategies.
“Constant efforts to generate awareness about avian influenza and how to deal with the situation is being shared among the general public through various media platforms,” the government told.
On Monday, Animal Husbandry Minister Giriraj Singh had implored state governments to not close down poultry markets or prohibit sales of eggs or broiler chicken meat in the wake of the avian influenza outburst. He said that unfounded rumors about poultry commodities could have a cascading effect on the rural economy.
The H5N1 presents no evident danger to humans, its highly pathogenic dangers can be fatal to domestic poultry and occasionally, wild birds. This has had a devastating impact on the poultry business as authorities initiated constraints to contain the reach of the contagion.
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