Ray of hope for Vid poultry farmers as many samples -ve

Nagpur: Poultry farmers of the region can be hopeful of being safe from bird flu, even as they still need to keep their fingers crossed.
Samples of a sizeable number of birds that had died during last one week in Vidarbha have been reported to be avian flu negative after first stage of tests. The confirmation was given by Western Region Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (WDDRL) at Pune, where the samples are tested first.
The WDDRL tests H protein of the virus, and N1 protein is tested at National Institute of High Security Animal Disease (NISHAD) in Bhopal.Even as the samples have tested negative at WDDRL, a final confirmation will come after NISHAD submits its report, said sources in the state’s animal husbandry department.
The samples that have been found negative were those taken from poultry farms in Kalmeshwar, Bhandara and Mouda. The sample of one crow that was found dead in Gondia district too have tested negative at the WDDRL, said sources. The birds may have died due to regular poultry diseases, sources added. These districts come under the Nagpur region of animal husbandry department, which covers east Vidarbha.
Meanwhile, rates of live birds have also improved after farmers decided to hold the stock till it fetches a better price, said Raja Dudhbadhe, president of Vidarbha Poultry Association. The stance has brought the rates to Rs60 a kg as against Rs45-50 a week ago, he said.
However, deaths continue as another 100-odd birds died on Thursday at a different poultry farm in Kalmeshwar, apart from over 80 and 25 deaths in Chandrapur and Gondia, respectively. Deaths have been reported in a poultry farm at Dhapewada near Nagpur on Friday, said sources. Sample test reports are awaited.
Reports are awaited for the samples sent from Amravati region also. The region includes Amravati, Akola, Yavatmal, Washim and Buldhana districts.
The biggest toll has been in Yavatmal district with more than 900 poultry birds dying at a farm near Pandharkawada town.
In Bhandara, Dhananjay Bhusari, in whose farm around 90 birds had died, has been quarantined for 14 days by the district administration. Bhusari has been made to stay in a room at the poultry farm around 4km from his village — Palandur. The farm has been sealed too. TOI had reported his case on January 14.
An official in Bhandara district administration said Bhusari can be released after the final report is out.