Dead birds in Kullu test negative for avian flu

Abhinav Vashisht

Kullu, January 23

The district administration and the Animal Husbandry Department today breathed a sigh of relief, as the samples of seven dead birds recovered near Shamshi in Kullu on January 18 tested negative for bird flu. The samples of the carcasses of four crows and three mynahs were sent to the Regional Diseases Diagnostic Laboratory (RDDL), Jalandhar, for examination in the wake of the threat of H5N1 virus after some migratory birds died due to avian influenza in the Pong Dam area recently.

Dr Sanjeev Nadda, Deputy Director, Animal Health and Breeding, Kullu, said that the RDDL reports confirmed that the birds did not die of the deadly H5N1 virus. There were no further reports of bird deaths in the region. He added that no external symptoms of bird flu had been detected in domestic poultry birds so far.

Kullu Deputy Commissioner Richa Verma said no case of avian influenza-like illness had been reported in the district. She held a meeting with the officials of various departments to form a strategy to prevent and control avian influenza. She asked them to keep a close watch on bird flu cases by coordinating with each other.

She said in case a dead bird was reported, a team should reach the spot and take samples in an appropriate manner and bury the carcass. She urged people to refrain from approaching or touching a dead bird and report it immediately to the Forest and Animal Husbandry Departments or at emergency number 1077.