Samples from 100 villages in Jalgaon to be tested in Bhopal

Mumbai, Mar 19 (UNI) Jalgaon CEO Madhukar Gaikwad said that samples of birds from 100 villages in the district, apart from those which were already affected, will be collected today and sent to Bhopal laboratory to check whether they are also affected by bird flu virus.

Talking to UNI, Mr Gaikawad said this action has been initiated following reports of birds dying in several other villages. He informed that 15 teams had arrived from Aurangabad for this work.

So far 91,161 birds had been culled till this morning in four villages of Sawada, Salva, Hated and Marol that are believed to be affected by bird flu, he added. There are 174 villages in the radius of 10 km radius around these four villages where the birds are being culled and most of the culling work has been completed. The backyard poultry farmers have received a compensation of Rs 20,77,460, informed Mr Gaikwad.

In all, 400 persons, in medical teams consisting of 24 doctors, 62 health assistants and 321 health staff, are conducting house to house survey. So far no trace of bird flu has been found in a human being, Mr Gaikwad added.

After culling of birds, the cleaning operation had already begun.

The authorties are dusting 'Linostar' where the culled birds were kept apart from white washing with lime.

UNI XR-JM KU RP KN1751