Death of 5 sparrows: Bird samples test negative for avian flu in Jalandhar

Confirming the development, UT chief wildlife warden Santosh Kumar said that the sparrows did not die of bird flu as per the preliminary report. RDDL had also sent the samples to High Security Animal Disease Laboratory at Bhopal for further testing. The report is expected next week.

The forest department has already issued directions to its staff to keep a watch on birds in Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary, Nepli and Kansal forest. “The staff is daily submitting a report. They are also keeping a proper stock of medicine,” said Santosh Kumar.

The report of a total of 35 samples, including poultry birds and Sukhna Lake, sent by the animal husbandry department to RDDL has also come negative. After the death of five sparrows, the department has also increased the surveillance measures.

“We have strengthened our surveillance activities in the wake of death of five sparrows. We randomly collected samples of few birds. So far we have not got any samples positive,” said Dr Kanwarjeet Singh, joint director, Animal Husbandry.

He said that they were keeping a tight vigil and had issued directions to the poultry farms as well. “We are ready to tackle any exigency. Soon, we will see the migratory birds visiting Chandigarh, so we are taking more precautions,” said Singh.

In 2014, one duck at Sukhna Lake had died of bird ful, following which over 150 ducks at the lake were culled. The lake was sealed and it remained out of bounds for general public for one month.