Man suspected of bird flu hospitalised in Ahmedabad

AHMEDABAD: In a suspected case of bird flu among humans, a poultry dealer, hailing from Amreli district of Gujarat, was on Saturday admitted to the civil hospital here.

The poultry dealer had approached the local authorities claiming that he had lost 600 chickens to the virus in the past few days and had himself contracted bird flu, state Health Minister Ashok Bhatt said.

"However, only after detail medical tests we would be able to state whether the man has actually contracted the bird flu virus," the Minister said, adding that his blood samples were sent to laboratory for testing.

"Two preliminary tests conducted on him have been negative. But we are not taking any chances and hence we have admitted him to the hospital and are carrying out other tests," the minister added.

The minister said that he is also convening a high-level meeting with the health and animal husbandry department officials in this regard.