"As of now, at 8.00 pm, on Februray 22, 2006, there is no case of avian influenza," it said. The release said that twelve people kept in isolation for observation in Navapur were normal.
After Pune-based National Institute of Virology sent its report of tests conducted on human samples taken from Navapur, Union Health Secretary P K Hota told reporters in Delhi, "Some human samples are under various stages of being analysed and we will come to know of it by Thursday.
"We do not rule out possibility of humans being affected and it is a distinct possibility." He, however, said even if the human tests are positive it would only be a "mild episode."
The Centre's warning came four days after the news came in about the oubtreak of the disease. The slaughter of birds suspected to have contracted bird flu and destruction of eggs were completed in Navapur area while disposal of excreta is likely to begin on Thursday.
"Till now, 2,08,892 birds, 2.7 lakh eggs and 18.2 metric tonnes of poultry feed have been disposed of within the 10 km buffer zone. The disposal of bird litter will begin most probably by Thursday after getting the requisite guidelines from the central health committee," Additional Commissioner, Animal Husbandry, S M Ali told PTI in New Delhi.
He said the culling of backyard poultry has begun and owners are being compensated on the spot at Rs 40 per bird. Each family has approximately two birds each in their backyard.