Maval poultry deaths not due to bird flu: officials

The death of 130 birds in Maval taluka, Pune, which had triggered a panic in the region, is not necessarily due to bird flu.

The death of 130 birds in Maval taluka of Pune district on March 14, which had triggered a panic in the region, is not necessarily due to bird flu, senior government officials said on Thursday.

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"A trader from Maval had purchased 30,000 birds from Mumbai for selling during Holi. However, 130 of them were reported to have died after being transported from Mumbai to Maval. According to our observation, these birds have not died due to bird flu, but because of shocks attained during the travelling," state Animal Husbandry Commissioner Vijay Kumar said in Jalgaon.

Kumar said a five per cent mortality rate is normal in transportation of broilers as they are weak in comparison to backyard poultry and cannot withstand the shock.

"This trader had purchased 30,000 birds of which 130 have died. Even if we assume the figure to be 150 it is mere 0.5 per cent, which is much below the normal mark," Kumar added.

Yet, considering the prevailing circumstances, the administration did not take any chances and sent the samples for checking for bird flu symptoms, he said.