Feeling The Heat Of Bird Flu: A PhotoStory

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The recent bout of bird flu has sparked fears disrupting poultry and restaurant business in several parts of the country. In Maharashtra, bird flu has been found in poultry birds of Solapur, Yavatmal, Parbhani, Latur, Beed, Raigad, Thane, Nanded, Pune, Ahmednagar, Hingoli, Satara, Nagpur, Gondia, Ahmednagar and Gadhchiroli. The bird flu outbreak in Thane district has now hit chicken and egg prices, which have reduced by 40 per cent to 50 per cent, as per reports. The hotel industry association claimed a 15 per cent slump in business as demand for chicken dishes have reduced. Colaba's Fourth Pasta Lane's Jagdish Hegde finds sale of eggs hit adversely, "by about 50 per cent" despite the drop in prices. Delivery boy Lalbaug-based Rahul Salunkhe who pitches in to help his aging father, now finds it difficult to make ends meet. "Throughout the last few months, owing to the lockdown and a series of religious fasting periods that followed, sales were hit adversely. And now, the bird flu has only worsened the situation," he says, symbolising the state of slump for the trade and those affected.

(Note: Some subjects may have removed their masks only to be identified in photographs to be used with this news report. COVID-19 appropriate behaviour has been maintained at all times)