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Bird
flu: Bharatpur takes preventive measures
by Lokendra Singh
Bharatpur/Jaipur: Wildlife authorities in Rajasthan have sounded an alarm over a possible outbreak of bird flu, and have started monitoring various bird sanctuaries for migratory birds likely to bring in the disease. The authorities are taking preventive measures following a global avian flu scare, an official said on Tuesday. India has so far had no reported case of bird flu, but officials are concerned as thousands of migratory birds come to nest in the country in the winter. Environmentalists have warned that the arrival of the migratory birds could put the local birds, especially ducks, at high risk, as they share the same water. In the Bharatpur bird sanctuary, bird lovers visit to watch thousands migratory birds that flock the sanctuary at this time of every year. RN Malhotra, the Chief Wildlife Warden of Rajasthan, said they have not come across any such case and their staff has been alerted. "As far as the precautions are concerned, we are vigilant and we have alerted our staff to inform us of any unnatural deaths if they come across. We are prepared to take action. Our vets will immediately isolate those birds as it can infect humans too," said Malhotra. Winged guests come to Bharatpur primarily from China, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia, where cases of the bird flu were reported.
Meanwhile, some 400 health and veterinary officials from 100 countries
are meeting at the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Geneva to draw up
a blueprint to stop the deadly H5N1 virus, already endemic in poultry
in much of Asia. Many Asian nations, backed by other developing countries
including South Africa, have called for more financial help to combat
its spread. The virus has killed 63 people in four Asian countries but
has not shown it can spread easily from person to person. Experts say
the world is overdue for a human flu pandemic, with the most likely cause
an animal strain, which mutates.
Nov 8, 2005
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