On Thursday, Delhis animal husbandry department said that around 850 cases of bird deaths because of avian influenza are reported in the national capital. According to the official data, till 10 am on Thursday, the animal husbandry department received 468 additional complaints that were related to bird flu.

The department has arranged 11 surveillance teams and they are working to reach at the spot to collect the samples from where the complaints are being received. Rakesh Singh, director of animal husbandry department, Delhi, said that his department has instructed people that they should not touch the dead birds with bare hands and in case of absence of the proper gears, they should wrap their hands in a polythene bag. He further said that they are getting reports from throughout Delhi and only from specific areas. They are receiving reports of bird mortality in less numbers from Delhi, but numbers of crow mortality arehigh.

He mentioned that a total number of 46 samples were sent for testing on Monday and Tuesday and no samples went for testing on Wednesday. A minimum of 72 hours is needed for confirming the bird flu. Animal husbandry department is collecting samples from each and every spot from where the news of bird mortality is reported. Samples are sent either to Jalandhar or Bhopal for confirmation.

Avian influenza is a viral contagion that results in deaths of thousands of birds throughout the country especially in Haryana, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Rajasthan.

South and North Delhi Municipal Corporation had imposed a ban on purchase, processing and packaging of chicken in their jurisdiction with immediate effect.

The Delhi government has also issued an order requesting local eateries and restaurants to limit on serving chicken and egg preparations due to the bird flu outbreak in several states of India.

Source: ET Healthworld