Migratory aquatic birds toll increases to 3000 in Pong Dam, 120 samples of domestic birds also sent for testing 

Shimla, Jan 6

The Bird Flu tolls of migratory aquatic birds at Pong Dam wildlife sanctuary hs gone up to above 3000 on Wednesday. 
The wildlife authority taking care of Pong dam Bird Flu alert reported increase in the count of Migratory bird which rose to above 3000 on Wednesday.
The new victims of this outbreak is Common crow as the carcass of these birds were also recovered from Pong dam sanctuary areas. These birds were often being seen while hunting the fishes in the dam shores likely to become victims of the outbreak. The samples of these crow were sent to the testing in virology labs.
Earlier to this number of Common crows were also reported infected in large numbers in the state of Rajasthan and MP two other epicentres of outbreak. 
No culling of poultry birds and chicken was done in the district Kangra since no birds were tested positive for the H5N1 so far as high alert was sounded in the district.
The state animal husbandry officials said on wednesday that around 120 samples of domestic poultry birds from around the Pong wetland in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh have been collected and sent to be tested for avian influenza or bird flu.
Over 3,000 migratory water birds have been found dead in and around the lake so far since December 28, apparently due to an outbreak of the H5N1 avian influenza among the birds. 

Officials said that no unusual death among the poultry has occurred here so far, but if the samples test positive, all poultry birds in backyard farms within one kilometre of the lake’s periphery will have to be culled, and commercial farms in the area will be disinfected. 
Kangra additional district magistrate Rohit Rathour Wednesday directed officials to identify at least one site in each sub-division of the district for the safe disposal or burial of dead birds. 
The district chief medical officer had earlier been asked to ensure stockpiling of necessary preventive medicines, PPE kits and keep vigil on the human transmission of the suspected bird flu and also keep ready the details
of the testing labs for the disease.

HP Govt 2 years

Wildlife staff deployed in other wetlands of the state, including the Renuka wetland in Sirmaur and Rewalsar lake in Mandi, have been put on high alert, and officials in all parts of the state asked to maintain a record of mortality or sickness of birds in their jurisdiction. 

masterhs

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