No sign of bird flu in Pong Dam, Renuka, says Wildlife Dept

Tribune News Service

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Shimla, December 20

Maintaining regular vigil against potential avian influenza infection in Pong Dam and Renuka Lake area, the Wildlife wing of the Forest Department today said though the report of the samples sent for testing were awaited, none of the birds showed any symptoms of the disease.

The Wildlife Department has so far sent 40 bird dropping samples to the Regional Disease Diagnostic Centre, Jalandhar, during the last two days.

“Our staff, along with officials of the Veterinary Department, is maintaining complete vigil at the Pong Dam and Renuka Lake and samples are being sent on a daily basis to the laboratory,” said Tarun Sridhar, Additional Chief Secretary (Forest and Revenue). The number of samples being sent from the two places is likely to be increased in the coming days, he added.

Chief Wildlife Warden Lalit Mohan said as per the reports that were being received at the headquarters twice a day, no mortality or abnormality had been indicated by any bird. “There is no cause for panic as the department has constituted four teams, jointly with the Animal Husbandry Department, to monitor the situation on a regular basis,” he said. “The department will continue taking samples of bird dropping for the next seven to 10 days and then review future course of action,” he said.

The bar-headed geese and cormorants are most susceptible to avian influenza and both arrive at the Pong Dam at the start of winter in large numbers. The number of migratory birds that arrive at the Renuka Lake is much smaller, though it is closer to Chandigarh, where there has been an outbreak of avian influenza.