Bhubaneswar-Flu prompts bird count #H5N1 #BIRDFLU

BIBHUTI BARIK AND SIBDAS KUNDU

Bhubaneswar/Balasore, Jan. 19: The forest and environment department today conducted another survey of water fowls in Mayurbhanj covering all the 21 water bodies in the district. The count, the second this year after the January 8 survey, was considered necessary in view of the bird flu threat in the district. At least one poultry sample from Bahanada in Betnoti block of the district had been found to have the H5N1 virus earlier. Divisional forest officer Bijay Kumar Panda told The Telegraph: “We wanted to check the health of individual birds, but did not find anything alarming as not a single case was detected with a possible bird flu infection. However, we are yet to compile the numbers. They will be available by tomorrow morning.’’ For the census, four teams have been formed for three of the territorial ranges — Baripada, Karanjia and Rairangpur — headed by the respective DFOs. Experts in the field have been assisting them. “The water bodies will be the focus of the survey. Of the total population, about 90 per cent are migratory birds that visit these water bodies during winter,” he said. Around 25 species of migratory birds have been spotted in the forest area of Mayurbhanj this season. Pratyush Mohapatra, representative of the World Wildlife Fund, and two zoologists from North Odisha University have also been engaged to monitor the programme as experts. “The census has been undertaken under international treaty Ramsar Convention primarily to assess the number of migratory birds visiting the district during winter. We will record their duration of stay, habitat and breeding,’’ said S.M.T. Rehman, DFO of Karanjia. The report would be submitted to the principal chief wildlife warden. In Odisha, only two places — Chilika and Bhitarkanika — are recognised to have migratory birds, he said. “The feedback received, so far, has been encouraging and we will submit the report to the authorities concerned after compilation,” said regional chief conservator of forests Anup Kumar Nayak. Culling The culling of poultry birds within 3km radius of Bahanada, the epicentre of avian flu in Mayurbhanj, progressed for the second consecutive day today. Till this afternoon over 3,500 birds were culled by 10 rapid response teams. While 1,679 birds in nine villages were culled yesterday, teams are still operating in the same villages. According to sources in the animal resources development department, 1,697 layers, 38 broilers, 20 ducks were culled, 203 eggs and 1kg of poultry feed were destroyed today by 1.30pm. The compensation amount was also disbursed to the affected farmers on the spot. The bird flu control room at the fisheries and animal resources development department said that till today 1,273 crows had died across the state. Reports say 117 deaths were added today. While 12 districts were added to the list of suspected bird flu incidents, Jharsuguda became the 13th with the death of more than four crows in the district. The state government sent 394 samples today to the Bhopal-based High Security Animal Disease Laboratory for screening of H5N1.