NEW DELHI: The Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries on Tuesday said there were no cases of avian influenza (bird flu) in Kerala and West Bengal from where some poultry deaths were reported. According to the department, samples of poultry and ducks from Matigara, Darjeeling district in West Bengal and Kuttanad in Kerala had tested negative for avian influenza (H5 and H7) according to a report received from High Animal Security Disease laboratory (HSADL) in Bhopal. Unusual mortality in birds had recently been reported from these two places.

Unusual mortality was reported from Aziz poultry farm Matigara, Darjeeling district of West Bengal, where 2,500 birds died on May 5 and 6. A team headed by Deputy Director (AH) reached the farm on May 7. The dead birds found at the site were buried under the supervision of the team following proper procedure. Post-mortem revealed Newcastle disease (Ranikhet) with Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD) (Gumboro). Samples were sent to HSADL, Bhopal, which have tested negative for avian influenza. No further unusual mortality has been reported from Matigara.

Reports had also been received about the death of about 2,000 ducks in five days in some villages of Kuttanad in Kerala on April 27. The scientists of Avian Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Thiruvalla, along with a team of veterinarians visited the sites and conducted detailed examination and autopsy on the birds. The samples sent to the Bhopal lab have tested negative for avian influenza. No further unusual mortality has been reported from Kuttanad.

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