A dead crow was found inside Nepal's Central Zoo around mid-June, prompting concerns about the zoo's response to bird flu. After rapid testing, several birds, including a barn owl (Tyto alba), tested positive for avian influenza (bird flu). The zoo authorities then sent samples to the Central Veterinary Laboratory on June 15.
Conflicting accounts
However, the zoo authorities and officials from the semi-government body running it have given conflicting accounts of when the first deaths were detected and when bird flu was suspected. The zoo remained open for several days, raising questions over its disease response during a major outbreak in Kathmandu Valley, where infected crows and fowl had already been reported in nearby Kirtipur.
Ganesh Koirala, spokesperson for the Central Zoo, said officials found a dead crow inside the zoo on June 13. “Although the rapid test had already indicated infection, laboratory confirmation was necessary,” Koirala said. “It took 72 hours for the lab to send the results.”
However, Rachana Shah, spokesperson for the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), the semi-government body that manages the zoo, said a crow and a pigeon were found dead on June 12, a date also confirmed by a veterinary official. “During summer, pigeons and crows can also die because of heat stress, so at that point we could not immediately conclude that it was bird flu,” she said.
Implications and prevention
The Central Zoo of Nepal's response to bird flu is crucial to preventing the spread of the disease and protecting public health. Bird flu is a highly contagious disease that can affect not only birds but also humans. Therefore, it is essential that zoo authorities and officials take rigorous measures to prevent the spread of the disease and protect the health of visitors and staff.
Furthermore, it is crucial that zoo authorities and officials work closely with public health authorities to ensure that prevention and control measures are implemented effectively.
Source / Reference: Mongabay