Wild doves found dead in Abyan [Archives:2006/926/Local News]

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March 6 2006

Waheeb Al-Nasari
SANA'A, March 5 ) Following the spread of bird flu in a number of Arab countries, Yemeni people deserted eating poultry, fearing being affected with the disease. Official reports confirm that Yemen is free of bird flu. In Abyan governorate south of Yemen, a disease appeared last month and killed wild doves and poultry. Local citizens were panicked; especially as the authorities did not rush to investigate the disease and seemed not to identify it immediately.

Health sources said that immigrating wild doves, which cross the region at this time of year, were among these dead birds. They often mix with other birds such as local poultry and transfer the H5N1 disease to them. However, laboratory reports confirmed that Abyan governorate is free of bird flu. The report of the Central laboratory of the ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation attributed the death of doves and immigrating birds to Newcastle disease which often affects certain types of birds such as doves.

A veteran team had conducted a field visit to the districts of Loder, Modiah and Al-Wadie last Thursday, following the citizens' complaints of the death of many of the wild doves.

Dr. Faisal Awad Al-Dabia director of veterinary in loder, and member of the investigating team said that the result of the examination proved negative to bird flu. He said that there were doubts among the concerned authorities and the technical team over the symptoms of the dead birds. However, they denied presence of bird flu, adding that the rate of mortality among wild doves was not more than 7 percent. He assured that there are other types of birds living in the area and feeding on the same grass, but are not affected. He confirmed that the mortality rate in bird flu cases would have been 100 percent had it been the epidemic. More over it would have affected all sorts of birds without exception.

Dr. Dabia explained that this result which was taken from the blood and saliva of 20 birds and doves secretions were taken prior to birds' death to assure people of the absence of bird flu in Abyan.

The wild dead bird's phenomenon appeared at the beginning of last February, and its increase worried the citizens as they thought that it was bird flu.

The symptoms of the disease are in forms of exhaustion of the sick birds. They could hardly move and could easily be caught. It is noticed that the sick doves look for water sources. They drink large amounts of water and soak their bodies and heads in water. Their bodies were clearly warm when they are touched with the hands.
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