Bird flu scare grips Cuddalore’s Periyakanganakuppam village as more than 50 crows drop dead

Cuddalore: More than 50 crows were found dead at Periyakanganakuppam village in Cuddalore on Wednesday and Thursday tiggering fears of bird flu. District collector Sibi Adhithya Senthil Kumar directed veterinary officials to send the carcasses to a lab in Namakkal for testing. The collector said there was no risk to the public.Last month, several crows fell dead in Chennai, Dindigul, Salem and Puducherry. People fear that chicken scavenging the carcasses would spread the disease.
State govt, on receiving an advisory from Union govt, has requested people to immediately bury in deep pits birds that died of sudden fever. Puducherry's animal husbandry department issued an advisory on bird flu in view of the ongoing migratory bird season. Migratory waterfowl visiting local wetlands may carry the virus without showing symptoms and can potentially transmit it to domestic poultry, said the advisory. District administration has urged the public to alert veterinary officials if they find birds dying in large numbers.