Coimbatore Crows Found Dead, Avian Flu Fears Loom as Officials Investigate
In a concerning development in Coimbatore, at least five crows have been found dead and several others discovered ill near the Kattoor area of the city over the past three days. The District Animal Husbandry Department has launched an investigation, with officials stating that the birds may have succumbed to food poisoning, but a definitive link to avian influenza can only be established after laboratory testing of samples.
Sanitation Workers First to Notice the Disturbing Trend
The incident came to light when Corporation sanitation workers from ward 83 noticed the dead and sick crows during their routine waste collection rounds. A sanitary worker confirmed, "We have disposed of five carcasses in the last three days." Residents visiting the ward office on Friday reported seeing a dead crow on the premises, and on Saturday morning, another crow fell ill in the same area, with one more sick bird found just a few meters away.
Officials Conduct Inspection, Cite Food Poisoning as Likely Cause
Following inquiries, officials from the district animal husbandry department inspected the spot. An official explained, "There could be chances of food poisoning because the place is surrounded by a residential area. Since sanitation workers have disposed of the dead crows, asserting the reason or associating it with avian influenza is impossible." The official added that the sick crows cannot be sampled for testing as they are still alive, but if any bird dies, samples will be collected and sent to the ICAR-NIHAS lab in Bhopal for analysis.
No Prior Reports of Avian Influenza in the District
The officials emphasized that there have been no previous reports of mass bird deaths or avian influenza in the Coimbatore district. However, this incident has raised alarms, recalling a similar event in Chennai where many crows were found dead, and subsequent lab tests confirmed they died of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza. Until test results are available, authorities are urging caution and monitoring the situation closely to prevent any potential spread.
