India claims to be a bird flu-free nation
July 31st, 2006
Encouraged by the lack of any bird flu outbreaks on its territory for the past three months, India is planning to claim the status of bird flu-free nation next month. As Sharad Pawar, Agriculture Minister, declared, the last avian influenza case reported in India was found in Jalgaon district of Maharashtra in May. This makes the country eligible for the status to be given by the World Organization for Animal Health. As authorities declare, the country’s Council of Agricultural research has also independently developed a bird flu vaccine at its Bhopal laboratory.