In a concerning incident in Maharashtra's Latur district, nearly 4,200 chicks died at a poultry farm following a bird flu outbreak. The chicks, only five to six days old, perished over a period of two to three days in Dhalegaon village, located in the Ahmedpur tehsil. The poultry farm owner failed to promptly notify the authorities, which allowed the infection to spread and claim the lives of most of the 4,500 chicks in the farm. Samples of the dead chicks have been sent for testing to the State Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Pune for confirmation.

Earlier this month, another bird flu outbreak was reported in the district when around 60 crows were found dead in Udgir city. After testing by the Pune-based Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and the ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal, it was confirmed that bird flu was the cause of death. The connection between the dead crows and the poultry farm outbreak raises concerns about the spread of avian influenza in the area.

Local authorities have urged poultry farm owners to take preventive measures and ensure that their farms are registered with local officials. Dr. Shivaji Kshirsagar, deputy commissioner of the Ahmedpur veterinary hospital, emphasized the importance of reporting any unusual deaths or health issues in poultry farms to control the spread of animal diseases like bird flu. By taking swift action, the risk of further outbreaks can be minimized, and the health of both poultry and local residents can be better protected.