Bird flu: Six crows die in Dakshina Kannada, samples sent for testing

Mangaluru: Amid Bird Flu scare, Six crows were found dead in Dakshina Kannada district and their samples have been sent for tests to ascertain the cause of death, health minister K Sudhakar said on Thursday.

According to the health department, samples have been sent in order to identify whether or not the birds died of the virus.

Karnataka State Health and Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar said, “Six crows have died in Dakshina Kannada district and samples are sent for testing.  No need to worry as precautionary measures have been taken in border districts to prevent the bird flu. ”

“Health and veterinary sciences officials have been maintaining a strict vigil in the border districts including Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu, Mysuru and Chamarajanagar. Once we get the report based on it, we will discuss it with the union health ministry and come out with guidelines and necessary action… people need not worry but maintain caution,” he said. The central health ministry has asked non-vegetarians to eat properly cooked meat,” he added

Karnataka Animal Husbandry Minister Prabhu Chauhan on Wednesday had asked all districts to be on “high alert” and take preventive measures but said there were no cases of bird flu reported in the state so far. Bird flu has been reported in parts of Alappuzha and Kottayam districts in Kerala, prompting officials to cull over 69,000 birds, including ducks and chicken.