MP lab tests allay avian flu fears in Kerala, Bengal

Darjeeling in West Bengal and Kuttanad in Kerala "" places from where there have been reports of unusually high death rates among birds "" have been found to be free of the dreaded avian influenza (bird flu).

Samples of the dead birds from Matigara in Darjeeling and Kuttanad in Kerala were sent to the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL) in Bhopal. The samples tested negative for the highly infectious H5 and H7 strains of the avian influenza virus.

In Matigara, 2,500 birds died "" an unusual mortality rate "" at Aziz poultry farm on May 5 and 6. Post-mortem conducted on the dead birds revealed that the birds fell prey to Newcastle disease (locally called Ranikhet), along with Infectious Bursal Disease (locally called Gumboro).

On the other hand, in Kuttanad, a high mortality rate has been reported among ducks. About 2,000 ducks were said to have died in just five days.

However, autopsy conducted at the Avian Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Thiruvalla, as well as the tests carried out at HSADL, showed no signs of bird flu, the department said.

However, the government has directed the states to be vigilant against bird flu being 'imported' in the country, considering reports of bird-flu outbreak in several neighbouring countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar.