Kerala - Kollam   

Experts rule out bird flu in kites

Staff Reporter

Suspect it to be a bacterial infection

TRACKING VIRUS: Experts taking tracheal swab samples of the kites in Kollam on Monday.

KOLLAM: After examining the droopy scavenger kites picked up from various parts of the city for the past four days and put to quarantine at the District Veterinary Centre, experts from the Chief Disease Investigation Office at Palode have ruled out any possibility of the kites contracting the H5N1 avian influenza virus.

The experts suspect it to be a bacterial infection.

Tests negative

The experts who arrived for the examination are Disease Investigation Officer M.C. Mohan and toxicologist D. Sanjay. Mr. Sanjay examined the kites to assess whether they were victims of poisoning. But they tested negative.

Dr. Mohan said that generally kites did not contract bird flu and moreover none of the kites in quarantine showed typical bird flu symptoms.

Responding to medication

He said that none of the birds in quarantine had died. On the other hand the kites were responding well to medication.

The tracheal swabs of the kites have been taken for culture and sensitivity tests. to identify the bacterial infection.

One live kite has also been transferred to the Palode office for studies.

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