High-stakes drama unfolds in Bihar’s Darbhanga as avian flu (H1N1), or bird flu, is lab-confirmed in thousands of dead crows, spurring a district-wide high alert. Administration and animal husbandry forces are in full containment mode amid public anxiety.
The outbreak’s ground zero is Bhigo in urban Ward 31, where crows fell en masse from January 12, totaling an estimated 10,000 across locales. Bhopal lab analysis of January 12 samples confirmed infection Friday, catalyzing action.
PPE-donned personnel from municipality and district offices retrieved carcasses, disposing them scientifically in deep machine-dug graves to thwart pathogen dispersal. The eerie quiet from absent cawing amplifies local dread.
Veterinary teams swarm poultry farms for rigorous audits, per Dr. Mohammad Intkhwab Akhtar. Serological monitoring via chicken blood tests will flag infections for swift intervention. ‘Proactive measures are key,’ he stressed.
Officials broadcast pleas: avoid touching dead fowl, report suspicious deaths immediately. This multi-agency push underscores commitment to biosecurity.
Echoing national bird flu histories, this event tests readiness. Poultry farmers brace, while health watchdogs eye human risks. As surveillance ramps up, Darbhanga’s resilience will define the outcome. Community cooperation is crucial in averting wider fallout.