Maharashtra has confirmed bird flu after 800 chickens found dead at Murumba village in Parbhani district, an official said.
According to reports, in order to assess the situation arising out of the bird flu outbreak, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday, January 11, will chair a meeting to review the bird flu situation in Maharashtra.
"Three days ago, 800 chickens in Murumba village died due to bird flu. The administration had sent blood samples of dead chickens to National Laboratory. Reports confirm that the chickens died of bird flu," the District Collector of Parbhani area said to media.
The official said that all the birds in poultry farms within one-kilometre radius of Muramba village will be culled. Moreover, the sale and purchase of birds within a 10-km radius has been suspended. All people in the village are being tested for the virus and a medical team is present, the collector said.
Eleven crows were found dead in Mumbai's Chembur area on Sunday, January 10, and the samples of dead crows have been sent for examination.
On Sunday, January 10, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying said that the central teams formed for monitoring the spread of bird flu are visiting the affected sites in seven states across the country. These seven states include Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.
Moreover, the ministry has issued an advisory to the affected states so as to avoid further spread of disease.
States/ UTs have been requested to increase surveillance around water bodies, live bird markets, zoos, poultry farms, etc. They have also stressed on proper disposal of the carcass of birds and strengthening of bio-security in poultry farms.
Though the state Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairy Business Development had asserted that people can consume chicken or eggs without any fear, with bird flu reports making headlines across the country, chicken shop owners said their business has been hit hard.
Read More: Bird Flu scare: Chicken, eggs can be consumed
Besides, it has also come to light that the price of chicken has dropped due to the prevailing scare nationwide. As per reports, chicken, in Mumbai, is now being sold INR 10-20 lower than the previous price, per kilogram.
Also Read: Chicken prices in Mumbai reduce by INR 10-20 per kg
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