Nearly 4 lakh birds culled: Two more poultry farms test positive for bird flu in Maharashtra

Officials said culling of backyard poultry in affected areas is still pending, while owners of previously culled farms have been directed to undertake cleaning and sanitisation of their premises.

Dr. Sanjay Khachane, District Deputy Commissioner of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, said, “A total of 13 poultry farms located within the one-kilometre radius of identified epicentres have already been culled, with two more farms expected to undergo culling shortly. Last week, a total of 59 samples were sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) laboratory in Bhopal. Teams from the Regional Disease Investigation Laboratory visited affected areas and collected multiple categories of samples from poultry farms and surrounding environments. The reports came positive for two farms on Tuesday late evening.”