Odisha peacock deaths not related to avian influenza: Animal diseases hospital

Bhopal’s National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases hospital has confirmed that the 20 peacocks and other birds like the crane that were found dead in a forest of Khurda district did not die from avian influenza.

On December 7 evening, at least 24 carcasses of peacocks, crane and crow were found in Madhupur village of Khurda district, fuelling apprehension that the deaths occurred due to avian influenza. “The director of the NIHSAD today in a letter to the secretary of Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries informed about the negative results,” said Bishnupada Sethi, secretary of Odisha fisheries and animal resources development department.

Officials said they suspect poisoning, accidental or deliberate, to be behind the peacock deaths. But it can be known only after the post-mortem of the carcasses were done.

After the deaths, the fisheries and animal resources development department had sent teams to the and conducted Ranikhet disease vaccination in the surrounding villages. However after the deaths, no new cases were reported.

The carcasses have been preserved and the post-mortem would now be conducted.