Delhi government says No Avian Influenza in poultry birds in the state

The Animal Husbandry Department of the Delhi government has confirmed that there is no trace of bird flu in the Ghazipur poultry market.

The department has lifted 100 samples from 35 poultry birds from the Ghazipur chicken market and the test results of all the samples have come negative.

Besides these 100 samples, four samples were also lifted of Heron birds from a park and their test results are still awaited.

However, the officials suspect that these four samples might have traces of the flu. These samples have been sent to Bhopal for lab testing.

“It is big relief for us as the test results show that poultry birds in Delhi are safe and they have not been infected with avian influenza,” an official from the Animal Husbandry Department said.

He added, “However, we have been very watchful and taking all necessary steps to avoid infection reaching and contracting the poultry birds in the city. The government is also watchful of the situation that is emerging in other states in the country.”

He informed that avian influenza has been confirmed in 10 states including Delhi, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh to name a few.

“We are waiting for the test results of the Heron birds and accordingly next course of action will be planned,” the official said.

The Delhi Government had shut down this wholesale chicken market last week as a precautionary measure. The shut-down followed when test reports of some dead wild birds in various parks in Delhi confirmed that they contracted the virus.

This alarmed the state government to an extent that it imposed a ban on the supply of processed chicken from other states to Delhi.