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Blood samples sent to UK NAVAPUR (Maharashtra), FEB 19 (PTI) — Considering poultry owners' demand to have a second opinion on the outbreak of bird flu in Navapur area, the Maharashtra government today sent samples of chickens suspected to have contracted the Avian influenza to a London laboratory. The government has sent samples to an international body considering the demand made by the poultry owners in Navapur, Minister for Animal Husbandry Anees Ahmed told a press conference here. This is for the first time that strains of bird flu have been found in India and the government would not take chances to investigate and confirm the existence of the virus, the minister said. To a question whether the report of high security Animal Disease Laboratory of Bhopal was reliable, the minister replied in the affirmative but said the State wanted to have second opinion because poultry farm owners were insisting on this. -- Peace be with you! Ani borem mog khor! Gabe Menezes. London, England