Crows, herons found dead in Nawanshahr village
ALERT Animal husbandry, health department officials rush to collect samples as hospitals prepare for emergency; no symptoms of bird flu found in locality yet
THE DC SAID OFFICIALS HAD BEEN ASKED TO KEEP A CHECK ON POULTRY FARMS AND SPREAD AWARENESS ABOUT BIRD FLU
NAWANSHAHR: Several crows and two herons were found dead in the fields of Ladhian-Kataria village of Banga sub-division after which joint teams of veterinary and civil doctors rushed to the spot to collect samples.
Villagers said two dogs were also found dead on the BangaKataria road, allegedly after eating the dead crows.
With bird flu allegedly causing the death of geese at Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh a week ago, the district administration swung into action and put its officials and residents on alert.
Senior officials of the animal husbandry department too responded quickly to take preventive measures in the area.
The samples of the dead birds have been sent to the Regional Disease Diagnostic La b, Jalandhar, for further investigation so that the cause of death can be ascertained.
Former sarpanch Amar Singh said several crows were buried by villagers as a precautionary measure on Wednesday morning.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, MK Arvind, Banga sub-divisional magistrate, said preliminary investigation by experts had ruled out the possibility of avian flu but administration had put the officials and villagers on alert.
He said health teams had also surveyed the area and no one was found suffering from symptoms of bird flu.
The officials also added that the reason for the birds’ deaths may be the use of pesticides in fields, contaminated water or the cold wave. However, the report of samples will reveal the exact cause of the deaths, they added.
Deputy commissioner Anindita Mitra said only six crows were found dead and their samples had been sent to the laboratory in Jalandhar. She directed health, animal husbandry and wild life conservation departments to maintain extra vigil.
Batting for full preparedness to tackle the flu, she directed officers to keep a check on the poultry farms in the district, adding that residents should be made aware of the symptoms of avian flu.
Veterinary doctors said the preliminary symptoms of bird flu include haemorrhage of combs and Walters, haemorrhage of shanks, inflammation of eye orbits and discharge through nares and beak among birds. Assistant civil surgeon Dr Bharat Bhushan said that to deal with emergency like situation in future, isolated wards had been set up at the civil hospital and sub-divisional hospitals of the district.
On December 21, as many as 500 crows were found dead at Baghiari village in Tarn Taran district and doctors at the Jalandhar lab had ruled out any symptoms of H5N1 viral infection in the birds.