Bird dropping samples collected for testing flu

Our Correspondent

Nurpur, October 21

In the wake of an outbreak of avian influenza (bird flu) at the Delhi zoological park, the state wildlife wing of the Forest Department today undertook a day-long exercise of screening of this dreaded disease in marshy area of the Pong Dam lake in lower Kangra district.

Led by Divisional Forest Division (DFO), Hamirpur, a wildlife team comprising a veterinary doctor, pharmacist, range officer and veterinary field staff today conducted a survey of around one third marshy area of the lake and collected 50 birds’ dropping samples for clinically testing. These samples are being sent to the regional diagnostic laboratory in Jalandhar.

According to Nitin Patil, DFO (Wildlife), during the screening exercise neither birds’ mortality nor any sign of bird flu has been noticed in the screening area in the Pong Dam lake nor all exotic migratory birds were in fine condition. He said this exercise was conducted under the direction of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Shimla.

He said the experts’ team collected random sampling of birds’ droppings from different areas and with the clinical examination of droppings the wildlife department would verify that the bird was affected or not with the disease. This exercise would also continue in the winter after the coming of all species of exotic migratory birds in the Pong Dam lake, he added.