DAKAR – Scientific analysis has shown that bird flu killed at least 750 pelicans found dead last week in Senegal’s Djoudj bird sanctuary, after authorities initially ruled out the disease.
The birds – 740 juveniles and 10 adults – were discovered in the Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary on January 23, and the Environment Ministry on Wednesday said it has been closed to the public.
Now, “we have the results of the analysis. It is indeed bird flu type A H5N1”, national parks director Bocar Thiam told AFP.
Environment Minister Karim Sall confirmed the bird flu diagnosis to RFM radio.
A mixture of wetlands, savannah, canals, marshes and lakes nestled in the Senegal river delta, Djoudj harbours more than three million birds from almost 400 species.
Thiam initially ruled out bird flu, claiming it only affected birds that eat grains, rather than fish-eating ones like pelicans.
However, the in-depth analysis by the Livestock Ministry disproved that theory.
While the pelicans’ bodies and waste have been destroyed, Thiam yesterday said "we'll have to do more” to prevent the disease from spreading.
At the start of the year, Senegal culled more than 40,000 poultry after an outbreak of bird flu was detected on a farm in Thies, in the west of the country.
Almost 60,000 birds died in the preceding weeks, said the Livestock Ministry.
Authorities now believe that cluster has been stamped out.
Senegal’s borders have been closed to poultry products since a 2005 bird flu epidemic to prevent contaminations, but the government struggles to prevent illicit imports from neighbouring countries.
Several European countries are also suffering bird flu outbreaks, with two million animals – mostly ducks – culled in France last month to try and keep it in check. – AFP, January 30, 2021
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