Maharashtra ups vigil as 1,000 poultry birds die in Parbhani, Latur in two days

PUNE: The state government has stepped up its vigil following the death of 1,000 poultry birds in Parbhani and Latur in the last two days.
About 1,049 birds have died in the state in the last few days, leading to bird flu scare. “The cause of bird mortalities in Maharashtra is yet to be confirmed. Trachea and spleen samples of the dead birds have been sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) to confirm the cause of their deaths.Results of tests are expected in 2-3 days,” animal husbandry commissioner Sachindra Pratap Singh told TOI.
Singh said all field officers, as well as higher officials, of the department had been issued instructions and guidelines on steps to be followed if these samples test positive for avian flu.
Sources in the department said preliminary investigations in state laboratories had pointed out that mortalities in poultry birds in Latur could also be due to ‘Ranikhet’ or Newcastle Disease, which is caused by a paramyxovirus that can vary in pathogenicity. “Many poultry bird deaths over the years have been a result of Ranikhet, which is equally detrimental for birds.”
Apart from the 800 poultry bird mortalities in Parbhani so far, the animal husbandry department on Saturday received reports of 200 hens dying in poultry farms in Latur. “I have communicated with the district collector in Latur, who has ensured that the birds and persons handling them have been quarantined,” Singh said.
Other locations where birds like crows, pond egrets, parrots and herons have been found dead, include Mumbai, Thane, Beed and Dapoli. On Saturday, the department received reports of more bird deaths, including a heron in Thane, three crows in Dapoli, one crow in Akola, two each in Gondia and Chandrapur.
On rumours about Maharashtra banning poultry supplies from some states in the wake of avian flu reports from parts of India, principal secretary animal husbandry, dairy development and fisheries Anoop Kumar told TOI, “States affected with avian flu are not part of Maharashtra’s poultry supply chain. So, there is no question of banning supplies coming from there. We have also not banned poultry products’ consumption in Maharashtra as it is still not confirmed if the bird mortalities in the state have been due to avian flu.”