Delhi sees 50% fall in bird flu complaint calls

Cases of avian influenza or bird flu in the national capital has decreased upto 50 per cent, the Animal Husbandry Department of Delhi said on Thursday.

Rakesh Singh, Director, Delhi’s Animal Husbandry Department told ANI, “We have noticed a decrease of almost 50 per cent complaint calls related to bird flu across Delhi. However, our surveillance teams are continuing to monitor the situation.” As per latest data 1200 cases of bird mortality have been reported to Delhi Animal Husbandry Department along with 742 complaints calls till January 20. Altogether 11 surveillance teams are working on complaints and have been deployed to the sites to collect samples. The department is also advising locals, from where cases of bird mortality were reported, not to touch the dead birds with bare hands.

So far 201 samples were sent for testing out of which 24 resulted positive and 150 tested negative, the remaining reports are awaited. A minimum of 72 hours is required for confirmation of bird flu. Animal Husbandry Department is collecting samples from every spot where bird mortality cases have been reported. Samples are being sent either to Jalandhar or to Bhopal for confirmation.

Avian influenza, a viral infection caused the deaths of thousands of birds across the country raising a concern especially in Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Kerala.

Reports of bird mortality such as crows, Ducks were reported from various places across Delhi which led to the official ban on chicken meat and eggs. However, it was lifted after all the samples from Ghazipur tested negative.ANI