MUMBAI: Maharashtra has become the eighth state to confirm cases of Bird Flu. The drastic spread of Bird Flu has caused the death of around 800 hens in the last two days at a poultry farm in Maharashtra’s Parbhani district. Apart from Maharashtra, the other seven states include Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Gujarat. These states had earlier confirmed Avian Influenza as the cause of the recent bird deaths.
Delhi has become the ninth place to get affected by Bird Flu. In Maharashtra, Parbhani about 500 km from state capital Mumbai is believed to be the epicenter. Deepak Mughlikar, District Collector, Parbhani, stated that three days ago, 800 chickens in Murumba village died due to bird flu. District administration had sent blood samples of dead chickens to National Laboratory. Reports confirm that the chickens died of bird flu. Earlier to this, an alert zone was earlier declared in a 10-kilometre radius around the Ahmedpur area in Maharashtra’s Latur after 180 birds, including 128 hens, were found dead over the last couple of days.
According to a Latur district administration release, the alert zone norms mandate that no vehicle will enter or leave the place and the transportation of poultry, birds, animals, feed, manure etc. will be prohibited. The central government on Sunday said it has directed zoo managements to submit daily reports to the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) till their area is declared free from the disease. Bird flu is a viral infection influenza that is reported mostly in birds, is caused by Influenza Type-A virus that commonly affects both wild and poultry birds. This virus can have several strains, although some variants can prove fatal as it is being reported from various states. On 10th of January, 11 crows were found dead in Chembur, Mumbai. A team of doctors and BMC officials reached the spot to examine the incident. Carcasses were sent to Pune for examination. On the other hand the reason for the death of the crows is found to be positive. Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackrey called for a meeting to review the situation.