Probe into mystery bird deaths - Sri Lanka

[MHSC]

There have been alot of old articles re-circulating lately, there is no date in this one, but newsnow has the date as Jan 5, 2007.





Probe into mystery bird deaths

Razeena Razick and Kurunegala Additional District Group Corr.
NIKAWERATIYA: Hundreds of birds have died from a mysterious disease at the Kottuatthawala bird sanctuary in Nikaweratiya during the last few days. The disease started spreading on December 29.
Veterinary surgeons from the Peradeniya University are investigating the bird deaths.
This bird park covers 56 acres and villagers say migratory birds have been coming there for more than 50 years. More than 200,000 local and migratory birds live in this lake paradise including Little Cormorant, Indian Cormorant, little Egret, great Egret, Black Crown, Asian Oceanbil and Black Headed Ibish.
Most foreign birds migrate to this sanctuary from August to April. Given this time frame, veterinary experts suspect it could be a non-indigenous ailment.
The inspection was conducted by Prof. Malith Pieris and a team of veterinary experts. Officers from the Wildlife Department are assisting them.
They have forwarded tissue samples of dead birds to the Government Analyst's Department for further inspection. They have also strictly ordered the Veterinary Office in Kurunegala to prevent the public from using the lake in the sanctuary. Fishing will also be banned.



http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/01/06/news02.asp

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Probe into mystery bird deaths - Sri Lanka

Click on the printversion of the article and it shows a date: jan 6.

http://www.dailynews.lk/2001/pix/PrintPage.asp?REF=/2007/01/06/news02.asp

 

[MHSC]

Re: Probe into mystery bird deaths - Sri Lanka

Lanka baffled by mass deaths of migratory birds <!--
Friday, January 12, 2007-->
Web posted at: 1/11/2007 9:45:33
Source ::: Agencies COLOMBO ? Sri Lanka's veterinary authorities have begun tests on hundreds of migratory birds that dropped dead in two sanctuaries, health officials said yesterday.
Residents in Nikaweratiya, known to lie on a route taken by migratory birds, reported the mass deaths and public health and veterinary authorities have begun investigations, local officials said.
"We have sent samples to a university to check and we are awaiting a report," an official in Nikaweratiya said when contacted by telephone.

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Di...=January2007&file=World_News2007011194533.xml

 

[scottmcpherson]

Re: Probe into mystery bird deaths - Sri Lanka

Can we infer the authority on the ground is Dr. Malik Peiris, protoge of Dr. Robert Webster and lately of Hong Kong? The names are too close together to be coincidental.

 

[fHemsher]

Re: Probe into mystery bird deaths - Sri Lanka

Thanks for the info. I added this report to the Global Map of Bird Flu Infections (Today's Headlines sticky).
Regards,
Francis

 

[KBD]

Re: Probe into mystery bird deaths - Sri Lanka

I was told the deaths were caused by salmonella, not bird flu. kenny

 

[yielddude]

Re: Probe into mystery bird deaths - Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka reports unusual death of birds
AP 18-01-2007

Sri Lankan health officials said Thursday that they were collecting samples of dead birds from different locations to ascertain any link with deadly bird flu. "We are collecting samples of birds who are alleged to have died in an unusual manner from three locations of the country," said Dr. Harsha Perera.
The birds died at two lakes in Kurunegala in central Sri Lanka, according to residents who reported the deaths last week. Perera said samples from the first lake proved negative and tests were ongoing of samples from the second lake. The dead birds included both local and migratory birds. The Health Department has asked local officials to collect samples from a third location, a lake in eastern Ampara, and send them for testing. Sri Lanka has so far not reported any cases of bird flu, but officials have been keeping a close eye on poultry farms and bird sanctuaries.

Health Ministry spokesman Dharma Wanninayake said Sri Lanka is free of bird flu and no case has been reported so far. Since it began ravaging Asia's poultry in late 2003, the H5N1 bird flu virus has spread to the Middle East and Africa and killed at least 161 people around the world, according to the World Health Organization. Most of those killed have been infected by sick birds, but WHO fears the virus could mutate into a form that easily spreads among humans, possibly sparking a pandemic.



from Lankaeverything.com :
http://www.lankaeverything.com/vinews/srilanka/20070118050504.php