In Uttar Pradesh (UP) more than 2000 chickens died at the Nawab poultry farm in Gharuamafi village in Aligarh. But the state officials say there are no cases of bird flu in Uttar Pradesh. But there is panic among poultry farmers, chicken eaters and health officials regarding this issue. Initially about 100 birds were found dead on Monday morning on an Aligarh farm.
The death of remaining 1,900 took place between February 26 and March 16. The surviving birds are being given antibiotics and vitamins. Regarding the deaths the UP animal husbandry director R C Sharma told that the birds are suspected to have died of bacterial pneumonia. Samples have already been sent to the animal disease laboratory in Bhopal, a lab in Izzatnagar and the Veterinary University, Mathura. The farm in which the deaths have occurred is jointly owned by Nawab Khan, Al-Meher and Gyanendra.They had brought 3,900 chickens from Parasen Breeding Farm in Gurgaon. The chickens were given the best feed but for the past three days the quality of feed was poor and that could have left the chicks weak and vulnerable. The sale of chicken had already reduced says Naushad, a wholesaler in Dodpur locality of Aligarh. After the deaths only about 500 chickens are sold in the whole of Aligarh.
DM Rajesh Kumar Singh said all precautions were being taken, despite the fact that initial indications had ruled out bird flu. The government has already culled down 91,000 birds and compensation of Rs 21 lakh having been paid. But the fear still continues regarding the avian flu.
