- Bird flu spreads to 10 states and Union territories.
- State governments to ensure constant vigil near water bodies, zoos, and poultry farms.
- Consuming cooked chicken and boiled eggs is safe.
THD NewsDesk, New Delhi: Prime Minister Modi has directed state governments to ensure strict vigil around water bodies, zoos, and poultry farms as burd flu spread to 10 states and Union Territories. According to PM Modi, with proper coordination between the Forest, Health, and Animal Husbandry Departments, India would overcome this challenge soon.
The rapidly spreading flu has forced the state governments to implement preventive measures even as hundreds of birds are reportedly dead in Delhi, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh. In Maharashtra, avian influenza has been the cause of birds’ death in Parbhani, Mumbai, Thane, Beed, and Dapoli. A Bhopal-based lab has confirmed the supposition. Samples of the dead birds from UP have been sent to the Indian Veterinary Research Institute in Bareilly for examination, according to Chief Wildlife Warden J S Suhag.
Measures are taken to control bird flu.
Among several mitigation measures, state governments have adopted mass culling of poultry and imposing a temporary ban on live bird markets along with a restriction on chicken and related food materials. However, the Centre has asked the state governments not to shut down mandis selling poultry products.
One of the first states to impose a ban on processed and packaged chicken brought from outside the city is Delhi. Meanwhile, Dr. Rakesh Singh from the animal husbandry unit of the Development Department informed that the culling of ducks has already begun at Sanjay Lake, where several ducks tested positive. A similar drive is underway in Haryana.
Moreover, the Lucknow Zoo has suspended its bird exchange program and closed its aviary for visitors, while the Kanpur Zoological Park has been closed temporarily.
Ashok Mishra, the Chief veterinary officer of Ballia district where carcasses of 5 crows were found, said, “The forest department has taken all the carcasses in its custody, and those were being sent to Bhopal for testing.”
Further, a central team has been dispatched to Himachal Pradesh and Panchkula to monitor the epicenter sites and conduct an epidemiological investigation.
Additionally, the Centre has also asked states to stock PPE kits necessary for culling operations.
Officials have confirmed that there is no scientific report which can prove that bird flu can be transmitted to humans, as confirmed by Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Giriraj Singh.
Source – Economic Times
