Shimla bird samples test negative for avian flu

Bhanu P Lohumi
Tribune News Service
Shimla, December 28
The administration and the Animal Husbandry Department today breathed a sigh of relief as all 17 samples of dead and alive broilers sent to a Jalandhar-based laboratory tested negative for bird flu.
The samples were sent for testing after about 352 broilers supplied from Haryana, which arrived at a Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC)-run slaughterhouse on December 25, were found dead. The Jalandhar laboratory sent the samples to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal. In its report e-mailed to the officials concerned, the institute said, “The report of poultry samples forwarded by Dr Vikram of Shimla abattoir for avian influenza tested negative.”
As a precaution, the supply of poultry from adjoining states was stopped. While sending poultry samples for testing, SMC Veterinary Public Health Officer Dr Arun Sarkaik had said, “It may not be a case of bird flu and the deaths could have been due to extreme cold. However, we have taken 17 samples for testing and report will be received in three to four days.” The test report has proved him right.
Dr Sarkaik said a strict vigil would be maintained to ensure that local suppliers got broilers through the SMC slaughterhouse and the risk of diseased chicks arriving in the market was eliminated.