More bird deaths have been reported in Alappuzha. Animal Husbandry Department (AHD) officials said that two duck farmers- one at Thalavady and another at Thazhakara- lost several birds in recent days.
The AHD has collected samples of dead birds from two places and will send them to the National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal for testing. The decision to dispatch the samples to NIHSAD was taken after the tests carried out by the Avian Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Thiruvalla suspected avian flu.
“The tests conducted at the Avian Disease Diagnostic Laboratory suspect bird flu and Riemerella, a bacterial infection. We have decided to send the samples to the NIHSAD for final confirmation. The samples will be dispatched to Bhopal on Monday and the results are expected in the next couple of days,” said an AHD official.
