Ten more bird deaths in state, toll reaches 15
Dumka reports death of nine birds; while Ranchi witnesses one crow death; Avian Influenza yet to be confirmed in Jharkhand: Officials
LAST WEEK JAMSHEDPUR HAD REPORTED DEATH OF FOUR CROWS, WHILE A KITE WAS FOUND DEAD IN HAZARIBAGH
RANCHI: As many as 10 birds-two crows and eight mynas-were found dead in Jharkhand’s Dumka and Ranchi districts on Monday morning, further stoking the scare of possible outbreak of bird flu in the state.
With these deaths, the bird death toll rose to 15 in Jharkhand in the past five days. Earlier, Jamshedpur had reported death of four crows, while a kite had died in Hazaribagh. However, Jharkhand is yet to confirm if the cause of deaths was avian influenza, as test reports are still awaited, officials said.
Samples of birds that were found dead on Monday would be sent to Research Disease Diagnostic Lab (RDDL), Kolkata to find out if the birds were infected with avian influenza. If the lab confirms avian influenza symptoms, it would be sent to National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) for final confirmation, officials said.
Dumka recorded the maximum nine bird deaths at Pokharia village under Shikaripara block on Monday.
“We, as part of rapid response team (RRT) that is set up to deal with a bird flu-like situation, rushed to the spot as soon as we were informed in the morning. We found nine birds lying dead in the village,” said animal husbandry officer (AHO), Dumka, Awdhesh Kumar Singh.
He said the bodies of the crow and only one myna were collected for sample test and were sent to Ranchi’s Institution of Animal Health and Production (IAHP), Kanke for test.
Singh said rest of the seven bodies were safely buried. “The exact cause of the death can only be known after test report comes. As a precautionary measure, we have asked villagers to be alert and not touch any dead bird. We have asked them to inform the department immediately if they find any more dead birds.”
Meanwhile, a crow was found dead in Ranchi’s old Vidhan Sabha area in Dhurwa, officials said. Animal husbandry officials recovered the body and it would be sent to Kolkata for testing soon.
Earlier, the state had sent samples of five birds--four crows and one kite-- and the reports were still awaited.
State animal husbandry director Nancy Sahay said, “We are expecting the report in a day or two. If NIHSAD confirms any death due to bird flu, it would first inform the Centre, which would then inform us.”