Bird Deaths: Samples Sent to Bengaluru

KOLLAM: With more cases of bird deaths reported from various parts of the district, the Animal Husbandry Department has sent the samples directly to the Bengaluru regional lab of the Veterinary Institute to confirm the presence of avian influenza which has gripped the neighbouring districts.

 In the last few days, around 250 bird deaths were reported from 15 panchayats. However, of the 23 samples sent for screening at Palode lab, only two were found to be suspicious.

The samples of these two, along with the samples found at a farm in Mangad, were sent to the Bengaluru regional lab, said Dr J Chandramohan, District Officer, Animal Husbandry Department.

The results are expected by Friday evening. The samples found to be suspicious were collected from Kottarakkara and Mayyanad.

 On Thursday alone, 48 cases of bird deaths were confirmed by the department from four places. Most deaths happened at the farm at Mangad, were 30 ducks died.

Though the ducks were dying in the past few days, the farm owners reported the incident only on Thursday.