Crows are dying in Bihar from bird flu

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It is official now. Crows are dying in Bihar because of bird flu. This was revealed in the report of the Bhopal-based High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL), officials on Saturday said.

The HSADL has confirmed in its report that avian influenza was killing the crows in Gaya district.

After the confirmation, the Bihar government has directed the animal husbandary department officials to begin necessary measures to deal with the situation.

According to reports reaching Patna, crows are continuing to die across the state.

Hundreds of crows have died in Bihar in the last one and a half months, particularly in Gaya, Banka, Nawada, Jamui, Bhagalpur, Munger and Aurangabad districts.

The Bihar Animal Husbandry Department (AHD) has sounded an alert and has asked people not to touch the dead crows. It has issued advertisements in local dailies asking people to keep away from the dead birds and inform the administration when they spot any.

"Some measures have been taken to control the situation and check possible spread of any kind of infection," officials said. Health department officials suspect the crows are infected with the H5 and H1 avian viruses. "Human beings should stay away from the crows."

Last month, neighbouring Jharkhand had reported similar mass deaths of crows.