Maharashtra’s Amravati district reports 6,900 new bird flu cases

Maharashtra’s Amravati district reported 6,900 new bird flu cases on Wednesday, officials said. This was followed by Nandurbar district (19 cases) and Jalna district (12 cases).

Samples are being sent to Bhopal’s National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases and Pune’s Animal Disease Investigation Section for testing to contain the bird flu spread.

“According to the provisions of the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009, we are declaring ‘infected zones’ wherever there is a positive case in poultry birds and ducks. All the poultry birds and eggs within a radius of 1 km from a poultry farm have been scientifically destroyed,” the state government said.

So far 10,65,890



poultry birds (including 8,98,273 from Navapur and Nandurbar districts) 60,75,791 eggs and 83,694 kg poultry feed have been destroyed from the infected zone, the government said.

The Maharashtra government has also released Rs.338.13 lakh to poultry farmers as compensation and directed them to follow strict biosecurity measures.

“Chicken shop proprietors are strictly directed to use gloves and masks covering mouth and nose, stringent hygiene and maintain physical distancing,” a government order said.

The government also asked people not to believe in rumours or spread them.

“Properly cooked chicken and boiled eggs are safe for human consumption. Citizens should not consume raw, half-cooked poultry meat or eggs,” the order said.