Aparna Banerji
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, january 2
While the deaths of some birds in Sangrur, recorded after the initial surge in bird deaths in the region, were the last cases of recorded deaths after the bird flu scare first hit the region, the toll has so far risen to an unusual amount.
While the last dead bird sample tests which made way to the region, had tested negative for bird flu, one of the common links in reports received so far, points to the prevalence of pesticides in birds.
While experts hint the prevalence of pesticides as one of the common causes for the deaths, the agricultural department currently seems to be on a denial mode about this new finding.
So far, samples which have indicated the presence of pesticides in them are 300 to 400 deaths in the Tarn Taran. Poultry samples from Sangrur (three days ago) have also indicated the presence of pesticides in them.
Dr Vinay Mohan, Joint Director, Regional Disease and Diagnostics Laboratory, Jalandhar, said, "Only the initial geese samples tested positive for avian influenza and rest all the samples which have come in so far have not indicated any presence of avian flu in them. In fact all the samples which have arrived so far display very scattered results with some testing positive for liver problems, nephrosis, chronic respiratory disease (found in samples from Pinjore) among others. However, there are some samples in which pesticides could be seen as the common cause. Samples from both Tarn Taran and Sangrur had such indications."
JPS Gill Director, School of Public Health and Zoomnosis, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, said, “Although we are not carrying out any study on this particular topic at the moment, it would be safe to say that multiple causes seem to be at play here. Out of which poisoning or seasonal problems seem to be the most prevalent among the ones which come are coming to the fore.”
However, the matter remains a cause of debate between various experts.
Sutantar Kumar, Chief Agricultural Officer, Jalandhar said, “The deaths of birds are certainly due to a virus. Pesticides have nothing to do with the deaths of birds in the region. Every pesticide has a certain period of time for which it leaves an impact but after that the affect wears off. The prevalent bird deaths in the region can’t be categorised to just on category.”
When asked about at what intervals the pesticide sampling was being done in the region, to rule out the harmful effects of chemicals or residues on food products, he said since currently the lab for the same is available at Punjab Agricultural University, the PAU experts carry out the sampling. “We do not have a lab for the same in Jalandhar at the moment but we will get one soon after which pesticide sampling shall also be possible in the district,” he said.
Between December 18 and 21, 500 crows died in Baghiari village at Tarn Taran, which is near the bird sanctuary at Sarai Amanat Khan, 32 crows at Pinjore and 14 bar headed geese at Ghatauli village in Jind had also been reported dead. Brds have also been reported dead at Faridkot.
Notably, while the scare has spread as far as HP and Haryana with samples also coming in from neighbouring states to the laboratory, the 300 bird samples from Shimla were termed as a case of death due to cold draft.
The RDDL Jalandhar has carried out sampling for the past 10 years and thousands of birds are samples every year. The RDDL Jalandhar is also credited for being the one units which promptly detected the scare just after a few deaths even though in some states administrations and diagnostic mechanisms woke up to scares after the death of thousands of birds. Dr Vinay Mohan says still every day cautious school children and residents bring in samples of even one or two birds dying in the vicinity.
“But residents can rest assured it is only in cases of unusual mortality of birds that people needed to be cautious. Several deaths happen in winters every year and they are not cause for alarm,” he said.
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