Migratory and resident birds continue to die
Ministry of Environment, Forest, Climate Change, Govt. of India has sent Guidelines (Updated)
Chandigarh, January 08, 2020:
There is no respite as the migratory and resident birds continue to die with avian flu in India in various part of the country teams have been sent in at least 6 states when country is still fighting with COVID-19. This is great set-back to poultry business in India and abroad. Sri Lanka has already stopped poultry imports from India due to bird flu. Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar are also affected with the outbreaks of H5N1 however there no case of infection reported so far Sri Lanka.
In India Rajasthan was the first state to report bird flu followed by Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. In Chandigarh so far five birds have died including Common Coot, Crow, Egret and Pigeon. On January 7th, 4 more birds died one peacock at Regulatory end, Sukhna Lake, Koel in sector-36 and one dead crow were found at Leisure Valley sector-10 and another at Maloya village totalling 9 dead birds in Chandigarh. This was disclosed by Dr.Abdul Qayum Siddique IFS, DCF, Chandigarh Administration. Samples have been taken and sent to Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Jalandhar and reports are expected on 8th January, 2021. In 2014 as many as 110 domesticated ducks and geese had to be culled to avoid virus spread.
Four crows and one Crane were found dead in Kalanaur area of district Gurdaspur(Punjab) as reported by Rajesh Mahajan, DFO. Even no such case has been reported from Mote Majra village on Chandigarh-Patiala road near Banur town in district Mohali(Punjab) a famous place for bird-watchers so many species of migratory birds visit this place said Gian Singh a resident of the village. However, Punjab is on high alert.
Three hundred and fifty five more birds died and thus toll gone up to 3410 in Pong Dam Lake in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. 250 more poultry bird found dead on the roadside of Chakki Mod a famous birding place on Parwanoo-Solan highway in addition to 500 birds found dead on the same place on 6th January, 2021.
In Barwala, Panchkula(Haryana) alone more than 4 lakh poultry birds have died due to infection. Barwala is a hub of poultry products and supply more than crore of eggs daily. 10 crows were found dead in Jind district of Haryana. But no case reported from Dighal in Beri tehsil in Jhajjar District of Haryana a paradise for migratory birds said Rakesh Ahlawat who is very popular bird-watcher in that village.
Similarly, more than 12,000 ducks have died due to avian influenza in Alappuzha and Kottayam in Kerala and estimated 50,000 birds are being culled in two districts alone. 165 crows in Indore, 100 in Mandsaur, 112 in Agar-Malwa, 13 in Khaargone and nine in Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh numbering 400 crows died due to H5N1.
As many as 425 deaths of crows, herons and other have died in Rajasthan and another 375 birds were found dead on Thursday. But there is no ban on sale of eggs so far.
100 poultry birds have died in Kathua samples were also seized and sent for testing. Import of poultry has been temporary banned till 14th January, 2021. 150 crows have been found dead in Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir.
In Odisha about 120 poultry birds died in Khurda district but none was found virus positive.
There are number of rumours on social media about this flu. But speaking to India today TV Speaking to India Today TV, Dr.Ravindra Khaiwal Additional Professor (Environmental Health), Department of Community Medicine, PGIMER, Chandigarh said that there is no need to panic as lojg as everyone followed the basic hygiene cooking etiquettes. "Thoroughly cooked chicken and eggs can be consumed in areas where there is no avian influenza outbreak. When you buy raw meat, make sure to follow proper hygiene and use different utensils to wash and cook the meat. Do not mix raw and cooked meat,” He further said that there is no case reported in India as regards to human to human transfer to the avian influenza virus. Though, the transfer is rare but reported in other countries. He said that this virus was first identified in China in 1996. One strain of this virus was reported in India in 2007. But it remained limited to birds only.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, Climate Change, Govt. of India has sent Guidelines dated 03.01.2021 relating to Avian Influenza for reference and guidance to all States/UTs. After receipt of the Guidelines, the Forest & Wildlife, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and all co-related departments to take all precautionary measures to check the spread of virus in Chandigarh. Debendra Dalai, IFS Chief Conservator of Forests & Chief Wildlife Warden, Chandigarh Administration Department of Forest & Wildlife, UT Chandigarh said the forest field officials and all concerned have been kept on high alert to keep a strict vigil and looking for possible signs and symptoms or mortality of wild birds. During the surveillance/patrolling of the forest areas, Sukhna Lake and other water bodies of Chandigarh, the Wildlife Team. On the evening of 05.01.2021 found 01 (one) number of dead Common Coot bird and again on 06.01.2021 04 (four) more birds of other species including a Common Crow have been found dead at Regulatory End of Sukhna Lake, Chandigarh. The reason of death has not been ascertained so far. However, the sample of dead birds has been sent for testing. Considering the gravity of the matter, all the bird watchers, volunteers, visitors/general public to Sukhna Lake and to any other water bodies have been kept on high alert to note any unnatural symptoms in the birds such as Diarrhea, Head Tilt, Paralysis and sluggish behaviour etc. They have been requested, in case of any such symptoms, to report to the Department of Forest & Wildlife, Chandigarh at landline number i.e.0172-2700217. The general public is also requested not to get panic with any misleading information on Bird Flu or Avian Influenza in Chandigarh.
Responding to the guidelines given by Debendra Dalai, IFS Chief Conservator of Forests & Chief Wildlife Warden, Chandigarh Dr.Matinder Sekhon, Rima Dhillon, Narbir Singh Kahlon and Vikas Sharma of Chandigarh Bird Club and bird-watchers Arvind Sayal, Navtej Singh, Tilak Sharma, Anu Garg, P.K. Jain, Kailash Sharma, Upender Goswami, Dikshant from Chandigarh assured full co-operation to the department for taking all precautionary measures to check the spread of virus.
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By : Kulbhushan Kanwar
First Published : Sunday, Jan 03, 2021 09:02 PM