New outbreaks of bird flu in Pak put border areas on high alert

Jaisalmer, Feb 9 (UNI) The border areas in Jaisalmer have been put on high alert following the outbreak of bird flu across the borders in Pakistan villages.

The Border Security Force (BSF) has also been put on alert and bird dropping samples are being collected from various sites.

Although there are no poultry farms in the area, five teams have been despatched to several villages to collect the samples.

District Collector Krishan Kant said Animal Husbandry Department officials have informed him of the spreading of the deadly virus in the border areas of Pakistan. The administration has been asked to stock medicines and necessary provisions, if the need be.

BSF Deputy Director General K R Patel said all the necessary information about bird flu is being collected to keep control over the situation. Veterinary doctors have been asked to be on stand-by in case of an emergency.

Meanwhile, reports from Pakistan say avian flu cases are on the rise with reports of approximately 3,000 chickens dying in a poultry farm at Singhala, about 20 km from Islamabad.

H-5 and A-1 virus have been detected in their samples, which can prove fatal for humans as well.

Sources said the outbreak of bird flu has been reported from two poultry cases on the western borders of Pakistan. Many villages in Sindh have reported the detection of H-7 and H-9 virus strains. At least 25,000 chickens have been feared killed due to bird flu.

Experts say H-7 and H-9 are not so dangerous as the strains of H-5 and H-1.

UNI