A day after samples of lifeless migratory birds discovered at Pong Dam Lake in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh examined optimistic for the H5N1 avian influenza, or chook flu, state animal husbandry officers rushed to the world across the lake sanctuary in a bid to comprise the flu from spreading to home poultry birds.
The variety of migratory waterfowl, principally Bar-Headed Geese, discovered lifeless within the lake space rose to 2,700 on Tuesday, with the counting of extra carcasses underway until the submitting of this report.
“Our priority at this stage is to ensure that the infection does not spread from migratory birds to domestic poultry. Rapid response teams have begun collecting samples of poultry within a radius of 10 km from the periphery of the lake, i.e. the surveillance zone, which has backyard poultry farms as well as a few larger ones. Fortunately, there has so far been no report of any unusual sickness or death among the poultry in the area,” stated Animal Husbandry Deputy Director (Epidemiology) Dr Munish Batta. Poultry samples are being despatched to the northern regional illness diagnostic laboratory in Jalandhar, he added.
On Monday, the district administration banned all human and livestock actions inside an space of a kilometre from the lake’s periphery, and prohibited the slaughter, sale, buy and export of any poultry, birds, fish and their merchandise in Fatehpur, Dehra, Jawali and Indora subdivisions of the district which encompass the lake. Shops promoting these merchandise have been ordered shut.
Dr Batta stated that the nationwide chook flu motion plan (motion plan on preparedness, management and containment of avian influenzas issued by the union division of animal husbandry) has been set in movement within the state, and the frontline area workers supplied with satisfactory PPE kits, masks, gloves and preventive medicines. Wildlife, veterinary and different officers within the state have been requested to report any unnatural behaviour or demise of untamed/home birds or animals.
Bar-Headed Geese, the flu victims, are identified for his or her iconic high-altitude flight
An worldwide Ramsar web site (a wetland web site designated to be of worldwide significance beneath the Ramsar Convention), the Pong Lake or reservoir stretches to an space of practically 25,000 hectares and attracts over a lakh migratory birds every year. Each day for the final week, a whole lot of birds are being discovered lifeless across the lake – principally Bar-Headed Geese who make up a bulk of the migratory birds. Each winter, flocks of those geese depart their breeding grounds in Central Asia, Mongolia and Russia and arrive within the Indian subcontinent, usually flying at 5,000-6,000 metres above sea stage and typically even increased whereas crossing the Himalayan ranges. Their particular skill to maintain flight in an oxygen-thin altitude has lengthy confounded biologists.
