First bird deaths in Pune district after avian flu outbreak

PUNE: Thirteen poultry birds and nine crows were found dead on Tuesday and Wednesday in the district, its first instance of unexplained mortality since the government confirmed outbreak of avian flu in Maharashtra earlier this week.
Eight samples from Pune district are still under investigation to conclusively prove if the deaths were due to bird flu or New Castle disease.

Shitalkumar Mukane, district deputy commissioner, animal husbandry, Pune, told TOI, “In avian influenza, the mortality rate in a flock of birds is very high. But the mortality rate is relatively lower in Newcastle disease. In the case of the two places in question in Pune district, 10 out of a flock of 50 and three out of a flock of 50 poultry birds were found dead. The cause is most likely Newcastle disease. But we are awaiting the results of the samples sent for testing to conclude anything.”
Data from the animal husbandry department showed that the dead bird samples from Pune district were from Daund, Mulshi, Khed and Haveli. The poultry birds, found dead in Daund and Mulshi, had earlier shown symptoms like diarrhoea, watery stool and dullness.
Bhandara was another district where bird deaths were reported for the first time since reports of avian influenza came in. Seventy-nine poultry birds found dead there on Wednesday. The number of districts recording unexplained bird deaths in Maharashtra has now gone up to 22.
The animal husbandry department has registered 24 bird deaths in Nashik district between Sunday and Wednesday and the samples have been sent to Pune. The Aurangabad civic body has appointed two en to drive away birds visiting the Siddharth Garden and Zoo premises.