Outbreaks of Bird Flu have been reported in migratory birds in Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Kerala, Delhi, Uttarakhand, UP, Haryana, Gujrat, and Madhya Pradesh. Similarly, test results of samples from some of the areas in Maharashtra have found positive.
Mortality has been reported in other 37 birds like Herons, sparrows, Parrots etc with the break of Mumbai 2, Thane 18, Ratnagiri 1, Buldhana 13 and 3 at Nagpur.
On January 29 it was observed that a total of 59 poultry birds have been found dead in the State of Maharashtra from various districts viz. Ahmednagar 11, Latur 20, Osmanabad 10, Amravati 2 and 16 at Buldhana. Total 23 crows have been found dead in the state with district-wise breakup of 4 in Mumbai, Thane15 and 4 at Nanded.
In Maharashtra, a total of 119 birds have died on January 29. The samples are being sent to National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal and Disease Investigation Section, Pune for testing.
A total of 19558 deaths of various birds have been recorded till the date, since January 8.
The process of declaring the “Infected Zone†and activities have been initiated to enforce the prescribed preventive measures. So far 71883 poultry birds, 44146 eggs and 63339 Kg poultry feed have been destroyed from infected zone.
The Government of Maharashtra has sanctioned a compensation package of Rs.130 Lakh for culling of poultry and other birds, eggs and poultry feed and operational cost of disease control within 1 km radius of the infected area, under the Bird Flu Disease Control Program. The compensation of Rs.24.18 Lakh has been distributed to the poultry farmers in the infected zone, where the culling of poultry birds and disposal of eggs and poultry feed has been done.
Poultry farmers within a 1 km radius of the infected zone are being compensated for the loss due to culling of their poultry and other birds, eggs and poultry feed. This includes mainly laying birds up to eight weeks of age at a cost of Rs. 20/- per bird, Layer birds above eight weeks of age Rs. 90/- per bird, Broiler birds up to six weeks of age Rs. 20/- per bird, Broilers above six weeks Rs. 70/- per bird, Poultry eggs Rs. 3/- per egg, poultry feed Rs. 12/- per kg, ducks up to six weeks of age Rs. 35/- per bird and ducks above six week age Rs. 135/- per bird.
The process of declaration of “Alert Zone†in an area of mortality in Poultry birds, suspected to be died of Bird Flu and ensuring necessary precautions and preventive measures are undertaken under these conferred powers, by local administration.
The Poultry farmers are urged to follow strict biosecurity measures. The chicken shop proprietors are strictly directed to use gloves, mask covering mouth and nose, stringent hygiene practices in the shop and to maintain social physical distancing norms.
The owners of poultry farms and general public are informed that, information of mortality in the crows, parrots, herons or in migratory birds in any village or of any unusual mortality of poultry birds in commercial farms as well as in backyard poultry, be immediately given to the nearest veterinary dispensary. The information should also be given on the Toll free no. 18002330418.
It is advised that the dead birds should not be touched with bare hands, post mortem of such dead birds should not be conducted and the dead birds should not be disposed off without intimation. Every owner, or any other person, non-governmental organization, public bodies or village Panchayat, incharge of any animal which he or it has a reason to believe to be infective of a scheduled disease shall report the fact to the Village Officer or Village Panchayat in-charge, who may report the same in writing to the nearest available Veterinarian.
Everyone in the state needs to take these precautions as mentioned above, for containment of the outbreak at the place of occurrence and to prevent the further spread of the disease. It is appealed that, consumption of Chicken and eggs should not be reduced or stopped by citizens on account of rumors and misconceptions. Chicken and eggs are the cheapest source of protein.
Properly cooked chicken and boiled eggs are safe for human consumption. It is appealed to the citizens that they should not consume raw, half cooked poultry meat or eggs. It is also urged not to spread misconceptions and rumors based on unscientific information about bird flu.
