Hundreds of Birds Dead Due to Bird Flu in 5 Indian States
Himachal Pradesh became the fifth state in India to have confirmed bird flu cases in the last one week.
Himachal Pradesh became the fifth state in India to have confirmed bird flu cases in the last one week. This same virus was detected in Rajasthan, Kerala, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh. Around 1,800 migratory birds died at the Pong Dam lake in Himachal Pradesh in one week and now officials have confirmed that it was because of the H1N1 avian influenza virus. The Himachal Animal Husbandry Department said, “ We've suspicions of bird flu. A 10-km alert zone declared where no sale of eggs allowed and poultry markets closed. Movement of tourists or locals was also prohibited within 1 km radius of the Pong Dam lake.”
Meanwhile, in Haryana, the Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department had launched an investigation into the death of birds. 80 samples of dead birds from Haryana have been sent to the Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Jalandhar. Samples of dead crows tested by the animal husbandry department have tested positive for the avian influenza in Madhya Pradesh. Section 144 was imposed in a 1km radius of the Balaji area of Jhalawar district as a precaution.
Due to deaths of 250 crows in Rajasthan since December 25, authorities have sounded a bird flu alert. Kerala plans to cull around 40,000 birds as a strain of the influenza virus H1N8 was detected in the state. Kottayam and Alappuzha districts were put on high alert and birds in the 1 km radius of the infected areas would be culled.
