A total of 19,076 birds have been found dead in Maharashtra since January 8. Maharashtra records 376 bird deaths in a day  As many as 376 birds, including 303 poultry birds, were found dead amid avian influenza scare in Maharashtra on Tuesday, an official from the state animal husbandry department said on Wednesday. A total of 19,076 birds have been found dead in the state since January 8, the official said. Samples of birds found dead before Tuesday have been sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Disease (NIHSAD) in Bhopal, he said. The institute has confirmed avian influenza strain in samples of poultry birds from Pune, Solapur, Nashik, Ahmednagar, Nanded, Hingoli, Akola and Buldana districts, the official said.