By IANS,
Patna : Bihar has sounded an alert against possible spread of avian influenza after a large number of crows died in the state from bird flu, officials said Sunday.
The health department has directed all district civil surgeons to keep in touch with the district animal husbandry department and follow the advise of its director.
“The civil surgeons have been asked to prepare and keep a rapid response team to meet an influenza breakout and report unnatural human deaths immediately,” a health department official said.
Last week, it was revealed in a report of the Bhopal-based High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL) that crows are dying in Bihar because of bird flu.
The HSADL confirmed the deaths in Gaya district.
The Bihar government then directed the animal husbandry department to take steps to deal with the situation.
Hundreds of crows have died in Bihar in the last one and a half months, particularly in Gaya, Banka, Nawada, Jamui, Bhagalpur, Munger and Aurangabad districts.
The Bihar Animal Husbandry Department has asked people not to touch the dead crows. It has issued advertisements in local dailies asking people to alert the administration if they spot any dead crows.