No bird flu in chickens so far: BMC

BMC officials are following guidelines on disposal of carcasses and other things, issued on Monday. Pic/Bipin Kokate

While the results of tests on two crows for the H5N1 avian influenza are awaited and carcasses of two other crows tested positive, the BMC has been flooded with calls regarding enquiries and to report dead birds across the city. Not every bird death is related to avian influenza and there has been no instance of flu among hens, BMC officials said on Wednesday.

As per the BMC's guidelines, citizens have to report dead birds on the helpline number 1916. Till 7 am on Wednesday, 170 calls had been received. "The complaints may be repeated and not every call is related to bird deaths," said an officer with the Disaster Control department.

An officer with the Rapid Response Team told mid-day, "Carcasses of two crows found dead near the office of the Commissioner of Police came positive for H5N1 influenza while test reports of two crows found dead in Chembur are awaited."

The officer added that we can't control the disease in birds and that it is not that great a concern. The important thing, however, is to dispose of the bodies scientifically without too much human intervention. While there have been many calls, the birds might have died due to natural causes, too.

There hasn't been a single complaint about the death of or symptoms in hens. "Chances of bird flu transmitting to humans are extremely low, so there is no need to panic," the BMC official added.