Tests negative, no bird flu in UP: CS

CHIEF SECRETARY R Ramni said there was no case of bird flu in the State. The samples of dead chicken dispatched to the Animal Disease Laboratory, Bhopal, were found negative in the laboratory test, he said.

Addressing a meeting of the State Level Task Force on bird flu on Wednesday, Ramani directed officers to take preventive measures to check the outbreak of bird flu. The Forest Department officers were directed to keep watch on the migratory birds and Animal Husbandry officials on the poultry farms.

Divisional commissioners and the district magistrates should organise review meetings in the respective divisions and ensure that directions given by the State Government were implemented, he said.

Chief medical officers of all the districts were directed to check the poultry stocks and feed coming from other States, Ramani said. The officers were directed to purchase 1400 personal protective equipment and 350 spray machines.

Agriculture production commissioner NC Bajpai said every alternate day, a bird flu review meeting was being held under his chairmanship. Secretary, Animal Husbandry, SS Yadav too, ruled out death of chickens in Aligarh due to bird flu.

“The deaths were due to Ranikhet disease. Fifteen samples of the dead chicken have been sent to Animal Disease Laboratory, Bhopal, on March 20 and report of the laboratory would be available within 10 days,” Yadav said. Principal secretary, VK Sharma, said there was no report about the death of migratory bird due to flu at any sanctuary in the State. All regional forest officers were alerted and directed to increase vigil at the bird sanctuaries, Sharma said.