In Pics | Nine states where bird flu has been confirmed

Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the surging cases of avian influenza in some states including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh have left meat-eaters asking if consuming poultry products is safe. The bird flu has raised concerns in the country as it is transferrable to humans and if not contained, it could turn into an outbreak.It is a respiratory disease in birds. The current flu has been caused by the H5N1 virus, which is said to be the deadliest variant but has a low transmission.All the states, including those that have not detected any case of the flu, are taking preventive measures to control the menace.Following are the states that have confirmed bird flu cases:

Maharashtra | Bird flu has been confirmed in Mumbai, Thane, Parbhani, and Beed districts as well as in Dapholi of Ratnagiri district. After 800 hens/chickens died in Murumba village, the district administration decided to cull nearly 8,000 birds in the village. CM Uddhav Thackeray has called for meeting to take stock of the situation. Credit: PTI Photo

Uttar Pradesh | The Kanpur Zoological Park has been closed for visitors till further orders, after the samples taken from two dead birds found there tested positive for the avian influenza virus. Authorities have ordered the culling of all red jungle fowls and other birds in the zoo. Credit: PTI Photo

Kerala | Bird flu has been reported in parts of Alappuzha and Kottayam districts in Kerala, prompting officials to cull over 69,000 birds. The outbreak was initially reported in four panchayats of Nedumudi, Thakazhy, Pallippad and Karuvatta in Kuttanad region of the Alappuzha district and Neendoor in Kottayam district. Credit: PTI Photo

Delhi | Atleast 27 ducks and 98 crows have died in Delhi in the past week. Following the deaths of the birds, the DDA closed Sanjay Lake and declared it an ‘alert zone’. Delhi has banned import of live birds and the biggest wholesale poultry market in Ghazipur has been temporarily shut down.

Rajasthan | With the 428 fresh deaths, the number of birds that have died in the past few days has reached 2,950 in the state. So far, 51 samples of dead birds from 13 districts have been found positive for bird flu. Credit: PTI Photo

Himachal Pradesh | The state government has banned slaughter, sale, purchase and export of any poultry birds, fish of any breed and their related products including eggs, meat, chicken in Kangra district. Till now, over 2,000 birds have died in the state. Credit: PTI Photo

Haryana | Culling of over 1.6 lakh birds at five poultry farms began in Panchkula district after more than four lakh birds were found dead in the state.

Gujarat | More than 50 hens and crows were found dead in parts of the state. The Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has said his government is fully prepared to deal with the bird-flu situation. Two departments are working to ensure there is no spread of the flu, the CM said. Credit: PTI Photo

Madhya Pradesh | Bird flu cases have so far been confirmed in 13 districts of Madhya Pradesh, while around 1,100 crows and other wild birds have been found dead across 27 districts since the flu virus was first detected in the state last month. The state government has ordered closure of poultry shops in bird flu-hit areas. Credit: iStock Photo