Amid bird flu alert, crows found dead in Sonbhadra

Varanasi: Forest officials swung into action and doctors were asked to be on alert after several crows were found dead in Dala area of Sonbhadra on Wednesday.
With at least four states reporting cases of bird flu, Uttar Pradesh has been put on high alert and districts have been given strict instructions to start culling infected birds even if a single case is reported.
Large-scale sampling of birds has also started in Varanasi. Divisional forest officer Obra Prakhar Mishra said, six crows were found dead in different areas of Dala, after which teams of forest officials and veterinary officer were rushed to take stock of the situation.
A post-mortem report is awaited to know whether they died due to bird flu. Mishra admitted that a vigil has been increased following the Wedmesday’s incident and bird flu guidelines issued by the state government .
Dala residents said crowd scattered in Dala Chadhai, Chudigali, Badi and Hanuman temple premises after the incident.
In Varanasi, chief veterinary officer Dr VB Singh said surveillance has been increased at around 150 small and big poultries and 25 wholesalers. Samples are being sent for test and no inputs on spread of any disease has been received so far.