Caged pets 'need not be culled'

Caged pet birds that do not come in contact with outdoor birds do not have to be destroyed, a top official told Gulf News on Sunday.

Mohammad Al Bowardi, Managing Director of the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency, said the authorities are "not concerned with enclosed pet birds."

"Currently our concern is over loose birds in neighbourhoods that may potentially have contact with migrating birds. Pet birds kept in enclosed cages at home are of no concern to us."

He added: "We are currently working on eliminating contact that may be generated between wild and domestic birds."

A statement released by the Municipalities and Agriculture Department in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency announced the authorities have launched a series of measures to prevent the spread of bird flu.

These include monitoring or destroying all live household poultry in Abu Dhabi and disinfecting farms. Beaches and coasts are also being monitored.

The department has formed teams to collect live household poultry from Al Bateen, Al Muroor, Al Sila, Ghiathi, Al Marfa, Madinat Zayed, Liwa, Mussafah, Wathba, Baniya, Shahama and Samha falling within the eastern and western regions.

Some 2,150 houses have been visited over the past few days of which 450 were found to be cultivating 5,004 chickens.

Ninety houses have handed over their chickens to the municipality while 360 promised to follow the municipality instructions regarding poultry or slaughtering during the grace period. The department has also asked residents to report the death of any bird found on the coasts by calling hotline number 8009990.

Precautionary steps to combat bird flu

The Ministry of Health yesterday announced a number of precautionary measures to tackle bird flu.

In a press conference held yesterday health officials announced they will develop follow-up and monitoring committees in all the health regions in the UAE.

Isolation wards will also be specified to monitor people who are infected with the disease.

Each region will also specify the quantities of antiviral drugs needed.

All poultry farms and poultry shops will be surveyed and lists will be made of the people working in these farms and employed in poultry shops.

The bird flu virus (H5N1) has so far not been detected in any wild bird or poultry in the UAE.

The World Health Organisation and international research centres confirmed that the avian flu virus has also not been contracted from human-to-human contact.