Approximately 25,000 birds are set to be culled in Thane, near Mumbai, after a bird flu scare.
Earlier this week, Thane’s CEO, Dr Bhausaheb Dangde, informed the media that tests carried out on several chickens found they died of the H5N1 avian influenza. Dead bird samples have been sent to a lab for testing. A high alert has been issued by Animal Husbandry Commissioner, Sachindra Pratap Singh, in Maharashtra.
Singh told the media, “We received confirmation yesterday that the birds were infected with avian influenza.” All are on alert, and measures have been taken to contain the spread. “But there is no reason for panic,” he said.
On February 10, more than 200 poultry birds were reported dead at the farm. According to government guidelines, all poultry birds and eggs within a 1-kilometer radius of the outbreak area need to be destroyed. During a previous outbreak in the state, more than a million birds and six million eggs were destroyed.
As compensation for the farmers, the state government paid Rs 30 million.
