No confirmed case of Avian Influenza in humans: Health Ministry

New Delhi, Feb 22 (UNI) The Government today said that twelve patients of Upper Respiratory Tract Infection, who have history of poultry deaths in their backyard, have been put in isolation ward in the Navapur sub-district hospital but there was no confirmed case of Avian Influenza.

An official spokesperson said, ''As on date, there is no confirmed human case of Avian Influenza. The situation is closely being monitored.'' She gave the clarification following media reports of two possible cases of bird flu infections in people reported in Navapur Sub-district hospital.

Twelve patients, of which four are women, of URI with history of poultry deaths in backyard farms, are in isolation wards. All these cases are afebrile and the chest X-rays of these patients are normal. They are under observation in isolation wards and none of these patients have pneumonia, a health ministry release said.

Meanwhile, the reports of 95 clinical samples sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune and National Institute of Communicable Diseases, Delhi is expected tonight.

Of the 30,245-strong population surveyed in Navapur town, 181 people had symptoms of URI but there was no one with a history of contact with the infected poultry. In addition, 19,687 people in the three km infected zone have been screened and 56 cases of URI detected but with no history of contact with infected poultry.

Ninety farm workers in the affected area are also under surveillance and all are asymptomatic. The health status of cullers are being monitored and none of them have fever.

Meanwhile, 1,01,569 birds were culled in Maharashtra yesterday, taking the total number of birds killed to 2,08,892. In the state, about 2,70,890 eggs were destroyed and 29 million tonnes of feed material disposed off.

In Gujarat, 73,157 birds have been killed and the culling operation completed and compensation of Rs 22 lakh paid to farmers.

The culling operation is still continuing in Maharashtra.

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