NEW DELHI, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in the east Indian state of Bihar have sounded an alert in view of the bird flu (Avian Influenza H5N1) outbreak in some districts, officials said Friday.
The outbreak was reported from Patna, Bhagalpur, Nawada and Jehanabad districts.
The special teams from veterinary and animal husbandry officials have carried out culling of chickens at several poultry farms following the outbreak. The samples collected were sent to the Bhopal-based National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, which tested positive.
Reports said the areas have been sanitized to contain further spread of the outbreak. Besides this, the control and containment measures are underway in the affected districts.
Authorities have put a blanket ban on the sale and purchase of poultry and poultry products in the infected zones.
Alerted over the spread of Avian Influenza, the local government has directed the officials of the education department to stop the supply of eggs served to government schools under the Mid-Day Meal Scheme.
The supply of eggs will be reinstated immediately after the situation returns to normal, according to local officials.
Free Mid-Day Meal Scheme was launched by the government in India some years back to tackle hunger and boost attendance in government-run primary schools.
Meanwhile, the government has stressed upon the need for an awareness campaign to check the spread of bird flu in the state.
Last week, the federal government's department of animal husbandry and dairying asked all states to increase surveillance in high-risk areas like poultry farms and bird markets.
The department has issued an alert on the H5N1 virus or bird flu after nine states, including Jharkhand, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab, reported outbreaks since January.
Bird flu, a highly infectious and severe respiratory disease in birds caused by the H5N1 influenza virus, can occasionally infect humans as well. ■
