Since Friday, around 1,839 bird deaths have been reported so far in 16 districts of Maharashtra, with Yavatmal, Amravati and Bhandara reporting fresh cases on Tuesday, January 12.
Nearly, 200 poultry bird deaths in Bhandara district on Tuesday, January 12. But until late night, this number had neither been included in the official toll of dead birds nor had Bhandara been included in the list of districts where such deaths have been recorded. Besides, officials said that at least 225 birds have died in Kendrewadi till Monday, January 11, while 12 hens have died in Sukni and four in Wanjarwadi of Udgir taluka.
The 16 districts that are now affected by bird flu are Yavtmal, Akola, Amravati, Mumbai, Thane, Ratnagiri, Beed, Parbhani, Latur, Gondia, Chandrapur, Nagpur, Nashik, Nanded, Satara and Ahmednagar.
On Tuesday, 218 birds were found dead in the state. Of this, 200 poultry birds died in Yavatmal, 11 in Amravati and three in Akola. Four crows were also found dead in Akola. Their samples have been sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal and Disease Investigation Section, Aundh in Pune, for testing. It can take 48 to 72 hours to receive the results of the tests.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Animal Husbandry Minister Sunil Kedar said the government will soon take steps to ensure that unorganised players engaged in poultry farming get insurance cover.
Following Union government guidelines, culling of nearly 5,500 poultry birds was ordered in Murumba village in Parbhani district. However, the administration could not begin the culling process on Thursday, following opposition from poultry farm owners.
On Tuesday, January 12, the administration in Maharashtra's Latur district has begun culling of birds in Kendrewadi and Sukni villages after samples collected from these areas were found positive for bird flu. A total of 10,000 poultry birds are to be culled in the district.
Latur District Collector Pruthviraj B P has ordered culling of birds in one-km radius from where birds infected with avian influenza were found in these villages.
Moreover, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) began an awareness drive at various poultry shops in Mumbai. The civic officials appealed to the people to inform them about any unusual bird deaths. It shared a helpline number (1916) with people for the purpose.
Further, the BMC has made it mandatory for poultry shop owners and workers employed by them to wear masks and gloves. The civic body has said that the dead birds need to be disposed only by burying them in a pit.
Share
Tweet
