Patna, January 30 (IANS). Avian influenza (H1N1) has been officially confirmed after the death of a large number of crows in Darbhanga district of Bihar. This has spread panic among the residents and the administration and animal husbandry department have been put on high alert. Avian influenza is commonly known as bird flu.
Thousands of crows have died in the wet area of Ward No. 31 of Darbhanga urban area, and reports of death of crows are also coming from other parts of the district.
According to local councilors, around 10,000 crows are feared to have died so far.
The Animal Husbandry Department had sent samples of dead crows to a laboratory in Bhopal on January 12 for testing.
Avian flu infection was confirmed on Friday after receiving the investigation report.
It is noteworthy that the first incident of large-scale death of crows came to light in the Bhego area on January 12 itself.
After the infection was confirmed, city councilors, municipal corporation employees and district administration officials immediately reached the affected area.
Councilors said that the dead crows were collected using PPE kits and were scientifically disposed of by burying them in deep pits dug with the help of JCB machine following the prescribed safety protocols.
There is an atmosphere of fear in the area after the confirmation of avian flu. Animal Husbandry Department official Dr. Mohammad Intekhab Akhtar said that teams of veterinarians are being deployed in the entire district to inspect all the poultry farms.
He said that all poultry farms will be thoroughly inspected and immediate action will be taken if any signs of infection are found.
Dr Akhtar further said that serological surveillance has been ordered in all poultry farms to detect the infection by checking antibodies in the blood of chickens. The district administration is closely monitoring the situation to prevent further spread of the disease.
Officials have urged people to avoid contact with dead birds and immediately inform the administration if any unusual death of birds occurs.
–IANS
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