The Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services has decided to launch an extensive surveillance programme in the district, especially in the vicinity of Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, following the outbreak of Avian Influenza (H5N1) in Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Mini-islets at the sanctuary, near Srirangapatna in the district, lure a variety of migratory birds from various countries.
Alert sounded
The department has sounded an alert in Mandya district after the outbreak of H5N1 (commonly known as bird flu) in Navapur taluk of Nandurbar district of Maharashtra in February this year, and in a poultry farm at Melkera village in Bidar in the State, L. Prakash, Deputy Director of the department, said.
Samples
Speaking to The Hindu here on Tuesday, Mr. Prakash added: “We will collect blood samples of birds and send them to the regional lab of the Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals (IAHVB) in Bengaluru for tests.”
According to a Forest Department official, the birds at Ranganathittu are safe. “We have been closely monitoring the behaviour of birds and the Veterinary Department has decided to collect bird droppings from Ranganathittu,” he said.
