Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying have said that cases of Avian Influenza have been confirmed in poultry at Central Poultry Development Organization CPDO, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, and Kheda Road, in Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh.

Further,  Avian Influenza has also been confirmed in crows at Panna, Sanchi, Raisen, Balaghat, and in birds at Sheopur and Mandsaur districts of Madhya Pradesh as well as  Bastar and Dantewade districts of Chhattisgarh. The Ministry said Avian Influenza has also been confirmed in crow samples from Haridwar and Lansdowne forest range of Uttarakhand. Additionally, in Delhi, the Heron sample in Rohini has also tested positive.

In Maharashtra, culling of poultry birds is underway in all the affected epicenters including CPDO, Mumbai. Further, in Madhya Pradesh, Rapid Response Teams have been deployed, and the culling operation of poultry is also continuing in the epicenters of Haryana. The Ministry said the central team formed for monitoring the situation in the affected areas of the country are visiting the affected sites and conducting epidemiological studies.

It said states have been requested to rethink their decisions to impose a ban on the sale of poultry and poultry products and allow such selling sources from the non-infected areas and states. Consumption of well-cooked chicken and eggs are safe for humans.

The Ministry said, in order to contain the incidences of Bird Flu without delay, the exercise of the powers conferred under Prevention And Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009, the state government has delegated all its requisite powers on District Collectors within their local jurisdiction in the state for prevention, control, and eradication of Avian Influenza.