No bird flu threat in MP

Bhopal, Feb 16 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh has ruled out bird flu threat in the state in the wake of thousands of poultry perishing in Ratlam district recently.

''However, samples of dead birds had been sent to the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory in the state capital as a precautionary measure,'' Director (Veterinary) R S Shreemal told UNI here.

''A trader had bought chicks from outside the state recently for selling. When the birds perished, he dumped them in a drain,'' Dr Shreemal said, claiming that no bird flu case had surfaced in Madhya Pradesh so far.

Samples from various parts of the state had been sent to the HSADL. However, the results had turned out to be negative.

Regarding reports of birds perishing in Guna district, he said information had been sought in this regard from officials.

Dr Shreemal added that many times the chilling cold resulted in deaths of birds.

Meanwhile, HSADL Joint Director S C Dubey said the laboratory had received more than 11,000 samples for bird flu testing from across the country in the past one month.

Analysis of more than 8,000 samples had been complete but only samples from West Bengal had tested positive to bird flu. Avian influenza was found in 81 of the total 563 samples from West Bengal.

Bird flu was not detected in samples sent from Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and Assam.

He said Indian Council of Agricultural Research Director General Mangla Rai had recently visited the laboratory. He assured that every possible assistance would be provided for maintaining high standards of research and analysis related works.

UNI SD-KV-PS PY RN1824