An order to lift the poultry-import ban in the state, that was issued on Monday, brought a great respite to the people involved in the poultry sector. Imposed amid the fears of the avian epidemic on January 10, the ban was supposed to be in place till January 24 as a control measure. However, new state directives withdrew the embargo, a week ahead of its schedule.
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Effective since Monday, Uttar Pradesh has opened its borders to the import of poultry and other living birds, read reports. The ban has also been imposed in neighbouring states such as Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab. As per the earlier orders, the government was supposed to review the situation on January 24 and then take a decision accordingly.
However, the ban was lifted yesterday on Central advice, stated the principal secretary, animal husbandry department. As per the Centre's advisory, assumption of the spread of infection from birds to humans was found to be baseless as the bird flu virus is temperature-sensitive. Sources have suggested the H5N1virus dies at 70 °C, breaking the chain of infection if the meat and eggs are boiled well.
The state-issued order also included a report drafted by the director, animal diseases to justify the ban lift. As per the quoted report, the department tested 43 dead birds and collected about 2,811 and 1,013 swab and serum samples, respectively, in a state survey till January 15. The results of their testing have revealed that only around 11% tested positive for infection, which is minimal.
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