A total of 311 poultry birds were found dead due to bird flu in Maharashtra. Of the 311, 226 were in Nandurbar district, 19 in Jalgaon district and 13 each in Nashik and Amravati districts. No mortality was reported in herons, sparrows, parrots and crows. The samples are being sent for testing to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal and Disease Investigation Section, Pune.
The department of animal husbandry said, so far, 7,61,369 poultry birds including 6,26,854 birds from Navapur in Nandurbar district, 27,94,867 eggs and 74,394 kg poultry feed within a radius of 1 km from the poultry farm in the infected zones have been scientifically destroyed. The state government has released a compensation of Rs 3.38 crore to the poultry farmers where the culling of poultry birds, disposal of eggs and poultry feed have been carried out in the infected zones for containment of Bird Flu.
The poultry farmers are urged to follow strict biosecurity measures. The chicken shop proprietors are strictly directed to use gloves, a mask covering the mouth and nose, stringent hygiene practices in the shop and to maintain social physical distancing norms.
Further, the state government has appealed to the citizens not to consume raw, half-cooked poultry meat or eggs. They have been also requested not to spread misconceptions and rumours based on unscientific information about Bird flu.
The state government has delegated powers to the district collectors under the provisions of the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009 for the prevention, control and eradication of Bird Flu.
