Bird flu scare in Chandigarh after duck sample tests positive

Chandigarh, Dec 18 (IANS) Chandigarh was Wednesday hit by a bird flu scare after the sample of a duck found dead at the famous Sukhna lake tested positive for the H5N1 (avian flu) virus, an official said.

"Of the six samples sent to Bhopal for investigation, one sample was found positive for H5N1," a spokesman of the Chandigarh administration said Wednesday evening.

Nearly 30 ducks at the lake had died under mysterious circumstances in recent days.

The Sukhna lake has nearly 250 ducks which are a star attraction for visitors.

"In view of the death of some ducks in Sukhna lake in the past few days, some samples of carcasses were sent to the Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Jalandhar, for testing.

"In turn, they sent some samples for further testing to HSADL (now National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases), Bhopal.

Of the six samples sent to Bhopal, one sample was found positive for H5N1, he said.

Sources in the administration said Chandigarh Police has been directed to ensure that the Sukhna lake, which attracts scores of morning and evening walkers and hundreds of tourists every day, remains out of bounds for people from Thursday.

"At present, there is no assessment regarding any outbreak of bird flu in Chandigarh. The situation is, however, being very closely monitored," the spokesman said.

While claiming that there was "no alarm or alert issued for the general public", the authorities ordered the lake island area, where the ducks reside, to be fenced.

"The movement of the ducks has been restricted," the spokesman said.

"Police personnel as well as forest rangers have been deployed in the lake area to ensure that people are kept at a distance from the ducks and to prevent any direct contact," he said.

The authorities have formed five rapid response teams teams "to counter any type of untoward situation".

"The Central Poultry Development Organisation, Chandigarh, has already been asked by the concerned central government ministry to take all necessary precaution for prevention of ingress of disease as per the standard surveillance plan," he said.

"The public are requested not to panic and cooperate with the administration," the spokesman added.