Maharashtra has reported the deaths of 1445 poultry birds on Feb 3, taking the toll to 20372 deaths of various birds amid the avian influenza outbreak, the state government said in a press statement on Thursday.

The maximum deaths – 1289 have been reported in Nandurbar, including 62 deaths in Solapur, 68 deaths in Ahmednagar, 20 deaths in Amravati, and 6 deaths in Akola on Feb 3.

Mortality has also been reported in birds like herons, sparrows, and parrots in Thane. A total of 16 crows were also found dead in the state.

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According to the statement, the results of the testing of samples were received from the National Institute of High-Security Animal Disease (NIHSAD), Bhopal, and the poultry birds’ samples from Udgir district in Latur and Dhayari, Pune have been found positive for Avian Influenza.

Wherever the positive reports in poultry birds and ducks have been communicated, the process of declaring the “Infected Zone” and activities have been initiated to enforce the prescribed preventive measures, as per the provisions of the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009.

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All poultry birds, eggs, poultry feed, and droppings within a radius of 1 km from the poultry farm has been scientifically destroyed. So far 72170 poultry birds, 44686 eggs, and 63339 Kg poultry feed have been destroyed from the infected zone.

The Government of Maharashtra has sanctioned a compensation package of Rs 130 lakh for culling of poultry and other birds, eggs, and poultry feed and operational cost of disease control within a 1 km radius of the infected area, under the Bird Flu Disease Control Program. The compensation of Rs 25.88 lakh is being distributed to the poultry farmers in the infected zone, where the culling of poultry birds and disposal of eggs and poultry feed has been done.

Surveillance work is continued at the places where positive results have been reported in other species of birds excluding poultry.

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