Latur: Maharashtra’s battle with bird flu continues to intensify as more regions report cases of the virus. After Nagpur bird sanctuary, Latur and Raigad districts are now seeing the impact of bird flu.
Earlier, in Latur, 100 crows were reported dead due to the virus. Now, 4,200 chicks died at a poultry farm in the district. The local health department issued advisories in several areas of Latur as a precautionary measure.
Lab results awaited
Nearly 4,200 broiler chicks died at a poultry farm in Dhalegaon area of Latur’s Ahmedpur tehsil. The authorities collected samples from the deceased chicks and sent them to a lab in Pune for testing. The incident follows an earlier outbreak in Udgir, where bird flu killed between 50 and 100 crows.
The local veterinary officer visited the site to assess the situation, and investigations are underway. Officials are awaiting results from Pune’s lab to confirm the exact cause of the deaths.
Outbreak spreads across multiple districts
The bird flu outbreak reached Raigad, an area bordering Mumbai. Earlier, animal rescue centers in Nagpur reported the death of three tigers and a leopard due to bird flu. Following that, the deaths of 100 crows in Latur were confirmed. Following this, death of over 4,000 chicks in Latur’s Ahmedpur region was reported.
Although reports from Pune laboratory regarding the 4,200 chicks’ deaths are still awaited, the authorities believe that the bird flu is the cause, especially after the crow deaths in Latur. Precautionary measures have been initiated in the affected areas to control the virus’s spread.
With the bird flu affecting both birds and mammals, there is concern about the potential transmission of the virus to humans. There is a possibility that consuming undercooked poultry meat could pose a risk of infection. While the authorities have not reported any human cases of bird flu so far, the situation is being closely monitored.
The local authorities have ramped up investigations in Latur to trace the virus’s origin and prevent any further outbreaks. Farmers and public are being urged to remain vigilant and avoid any contact with dead birds or animals to minimize the spread of the disease.
Raigad district reports bird flu outbreak
The bird flu virus also reached Raigad, a district located near Mumbai. In Uran tehsil of Raigad, cases of bird flu were confirmed among chickens. This has led to a significant decline in the demand for poultry in the district, with a reported 30% drop in chicken sales.
The administration issued advisories to poultry farms in the district, advising them to take extra precautions to avoid contamination. Raigad produces over 40 lakh chickens annually, with around 30 lakh of those being produced commercially. Approximately 90% of this production comes from various poultry farms and companies in the area.
In Chirner area of Raigad, authorities have declared a 1-kilometer radius as a restricted zone after confirming bird flu cases. Over 1,000 chickens, 166 eggs, 270 kilograms of poultry feed, and 50 kilograms of rice were destroyed as part of the efforts to curb the virus’s spread.
Steps taken by Maharashtra govt
In response to the bird flu threat, Maharashtra government has stepped up surveillance and monitoring across the affected regions. Poultry farms and farmers have been instructed to implement stricter biosecurity measures, including limiting the movement of birds and disinfecting the farms regularly.
Local health departments have launched public awareness campaigns about the risks of consuming poultry products during the outbreak.
