NEW DELHI, Jan 11: Bird flu has spread to 10 States in India, it has been confirmed. "Till January 11, 2021, Avian Influenza has been confirmed in 10 States of the country," the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has said in a statement.

Delhi, Uttarakhand and Maharashtra are the latest to confirm the presence of H5N8 strain of avian flu on Monday. Earlier, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala had reported the outbreak last week.

In Delhi, the deaths of birds - crows and ducks - have occurred around Sanjay Lake near Mayur Vihar and in Ghazipur in East Delhi. Ghazipur has a huge garbage dump. The wholesale poultry market in Ghazipur has been shut. Culling has started in Haryana and Kerala.

While thousands of migratory birds died in Pon Dam wetland in Himachal Pradesh starting last month, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are reporting deaths of crows and in Kerala the outbreak is in poultry.

The surveillance has been stepped up around poultry farms, water bodies, live bird markets and also zoos in all the affected States, according to official sources.

The Centre has issued notification to the State health authorities to ensure proper disposal of carcasses, and adequate stocks of PPE kits and accessories required for culling operations. The State animal husbandry departments in coordination with health authorities will step up communication and awareness about the infection in order to avoid any chances of transmission of the disease to humans.