Proposal to set up 'field laboratory' in Keoladeo

Jaipur, Mar 19 (UNI) Following the outbreak of birdflu in the two districts of Mumbai, there is a proposal to set up a field laboratory at Keoladeo Ghana National Park here which can act as a warning centre.

The proposal was mooted at a meeting held at Bharatpur which was attended by Health, Animal Husbandry secretaries and veterinary officials, sources said.

More than 1,000 migratory birds, which are possible carriers of the birdflu virus, visit Keoladeo every year. These birds often migrate from high risk birdflu areas and fly around in the neighbouring villages and fields too, thus increasing the risk of the disease.

One of the most likely carriers is the bar-headed goose migrating from China.

The proposal seeks to develop a field laboratory at Keoladeo where bird droppings and blood samples can be collected throughout the year and sent to the high-security national laboratory at Bhopal for analysis on a regular basis.

Migratory birds like Siberian Crane, Steppe Eagle, Pale and Marsh Harriers, Osprey, Common Teal and Indian Little Ringed Plover visit the park annually.

However, Siberian cranes have stopped coming to the park for a few years now. The park is home to 375 species of birds.

The field laboratory will keep a constant check on the health of the birds which would be monitored and kept under watch throughout the year, a senior official at Keoladeo told UNI.

This field laboratory will not only be an asset for Rajasthan but also for the adjoining areas and states. Not only bird flu, but such constant monitoring would keep a watch on any other disease outbreak as well.

The proposal also moots that the laboratory and its functioning will be directly under the Directorate of Keoladeo park. The park management is ready to provide a separate building for the laboratory and wants a doctor and techical assistant on a permanent basis stationed at the park.

''Right now, a doctor and compounder are there in view of the bird flu threat but they have other duties in addition to keeping a watch,'' said an official.

Although, Animal Husbandry Minister Prabhu Lal Saini denied having any knowledge about the proposal, he welcomed the idea, saying, ''Such a proposal is definitely good news for the state. Our government would support it as Keoladeo is a high-risk zone.'' However, Animal Husbandry Director U K Thanvi said, ''Such a field laboratory is not required at Keoladeo. Already, there are various regional disease diagnostic laboratories, including one at Jallandar, for the north.'' UNI RRT RA PV VP1238