Barring one, over 800 samples sent to a Bhopal lab from districts in Madhya Pradesh bordering Maharashtra have tested negative for bird flu, official sources said.
The samples received by the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory included those sent till March 17 from Burhanpur, Barwani, Khargone, Jhabua, Balaghat, Chhindwara, Seoni, Indore, Khandwa and Dhar.
"The shadow of bird flu that broke out in Jalgaon district of Maharashtra has not affected Madhya Pradesh, barring Ichhapur village in Burhanpur - two kilometres from Jalgaon," an official of the veterinary department said.
"Except one sample from Ichhapur, all others have been reported as negative by the lab," he said.
Four samples from Jalgaon tested positive for bird flu on March 14 and six others followed suit March 28. Immediately, Burhanpur, Barwani, Khargone and Jhabua were put on high alert and survey work was intensified.
Only one sample tested positive from Ichhapur on March 28. The administration immediately swung into action and 8,540 birds were culled in 23 villages of Burhanpur district and disinfectant was sprayed in and around 2,600 houses.
Earlier, after some cases tested positive in Warad in Maharashtra, 2,916 birds were culled in four villages of Barwani in Madhya Pradesh and samples from all districts bordering Maharashtra were picked up.
{{/usCountry}}Earlier, after some cases tested positive in Warad in Maharashtra, 2,916 birds were culled in four villages of Barwani in Madhya Pradesh and samples from all districts bordering Maharashtra were picked up.
{{/usCountry}}Though no natural deaths of birds have been reported from anywhere in Madhya Pradesh in the past week, rapid response teams have been put on high alert.