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Bird flu: Twelve states confirm Bird flu infections & special notification came for boatmen

The Centre on Sunday confirmed bird flu in nine states for poultry birds.  “Till January 24, 2021 outbreaks of Avian Influenza (bird flu) have been confirmed in 9 States (Kerala, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab) for poultry birds,” said a statement by Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

The flu has been confirmed in 12 states so far, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, and Punjab, for crow, migratory or wild birds.

“However, crow/pigeon samples submitted from Rudraprayag, Lansdowne Forest Range and Paudi Forest Range of Uttarakhand; pigeon samples from Sriganganagar district of Rajasthan; crow and peacock samples from Fatehpur district of Uttar Pradesh have been found negative for Avian Influenza,” the statement said.

Varanasi situation

In Varanasi, it was notified that action will be taken against the boatmen who did not follow the guidelines laid down by the administration and allowed tourists on their boats to feed the birds amid flu. The action comes after a photo was shared on social media by cricketer Shikhar Dhawan in which he was seen feeding birds during a boat ride in Varanasi amid bird flu, which raised concerns among netizens.

Rajasthan situation

Avian Influenza (bird flu) has been confirmed in 17 districts of Rajasthan. According to the state’s animal husbandry department, a total of 6,595 birds have been found dead in the state between December 25, 2020, and January 24, 2021.

Gujarat Situation

Gir Somnath became the fourth district in Gujarat to be affected by bird flu after samples of indigenous chicken kept at a farm at Dolasa village tested positive for avian influenza. Culling operation started in and around Dolasa village on Saturday, officers said.

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Delhi, Maharashtra also hit by bird flu; both states take actions against the spread

bird flu

Delhi and Maharashtra have become the latest states to be hit by Bird Flu that is fast spreading in the country. Seven other states – Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Gujarat – had earlier confirmed Avian Influenza as the cause of the recent bird deaths.

Delhi has banned import of live birds and the biggest wholesale poultry market in Ghazipur has been temporarily shut down. “Rapid response teams have been formed in every district to contain the spread. Veterinary doctors are also constantly on the lookout. The focus is particularly on the poultry markets in Sanjay Lake, Bhalswa Lake, and Hauz Khas,” Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Saturday.

More than 140 birds, mostly crows, have been found dead across locations in Delhi over the past four days, even as district officials were directed to ensure that unauthorised wholesale poultry markets were closed for 10 days amid concerns of the spread of avian influenza.

In Maharashtra, the epicenter is Parbhani – about 500 km from state capital Mumbai.  “About 800 poultry birds – all hens – died in the last two days. Their samples were given for testing. And now it is confirmed that the reason is bird flu,” Deepak Madhukar Munglikar, District Collector, told media. “It has been confirmed in Murumba village. There are about eight poultry farms and 8,000 birds. We have given orders of culling those poultry birds,” he added.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will hold a meeting this evening to review the bird flu situation.

The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has formed teams to monitor the spread of bird flu. The government has also directed zoo managements to submit daily reports to the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) till their area is declared free from the disease.

States/ UTs have been told to increase surveillance around water bodies, live bird markets, zoos, poultry farms, etc proper disposal of the carcass, and strengthening of bio-security in poultry farms.

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After confirming the presence of virus in dead crows, Bird flu alert has been sounded in Rajasthan

Officials stated that a bird flu alert has been sounded in Rajasthan after the presence of the dreaded virus was confirmed in dead crows in Jhalawar and more avian deaths were reported in other districts, including Jaipur. The Animal Husbandry Department has set up a state-level control room and sent its teams to the districts for effective monitoring, they said.

Seven crows were found dead at the iconic Jal Mahal, in Jaipur on Sunday, taking the toll to 252 in the state. The Principal Secretary, Animal Husbandry, Kunji Lal Meena, told reporters on Sunday that the deaths due to bird flu have been mainly reported among crows, with most of them from the Kota and Jodhpur divisions.

“The virus is dangerous and necessary guidelines have been issued. All field officers and poultry farm owners have been asked to remain vigilant. Effective monitoring is ensured at all sites, especially in wetlands, Sambhar Lake and Kaila Devi bird sanctuary,” Meena said, adding that a control room has been set up at the state level.  He said that the crow deaths were reported on December 25 from Jhalawar. Their samples were sent to the National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal and the bird flu virus was detected.

So far, the death of 100 crows has been reported from Jhalawar, 72 from Baran, 47 from Kota, 19 from Pali, seven from Jodhpur, and seven from Jaipur. Department Secretary Arushi Malik said that the Centre’s guidelines are being followed and an alert has been sounded in all districts.

“The situation is not alarming, but we are vigilant, ensuring that this virus does not enter domestic animals. The guidelines are being followed and dead animals are buried as per instructions,” Additional Director Bhawani Rathore said.

Rathore also added that over 75 samples from various places have been sent for testing. Chief Wildlife Warden ML Meena said that the department has sounded an alert, and the field staff has been asked to be more vigilant. He said, “Avian influenza has been confirmed only in Jhalawar, but directions have been issued to track every instance, especially near water bodies.”