Saudis deny culled birds came from UAE

Abu Dhabi: The Saudi Government has clarified that none of the five H5 virus-infected falcons that were recently culled came from the UAE, as published by a local Arabic daily.

Daily Al Riyadh in its Monday edition said that two among the five falcons, which were tested for H5 bird flu virus, entered Saudi Arabia from the UAE six to seven months ago.

The Saudi authorities have recently announced the culling of 37 falcons after tests on 31 falcons revealed five of them tested positive for the H5 virus.

The publication of the news triggered a protest from the UAE, asking Saudi authorities to clarify or prove two of the culled birds among the 37 originated from UAE.

Majid Al Mansouri, Secretary-General of the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) and the official spokesman of the National Committee for Emergency Response to Bird Flu, wrote an official letter asking the Saudi authorities to clarify the news in Al Riyadh, which has based its story on an official announcement of the culling.

In an official letter addressed to Al Mansouri, the Saudi Ministry of Agriculture clarified that the ministry issued no statement suggesting two of the birds came from the UAE.

The ministry also wrote the original announcement of the culling issued by the Animal Wealth Affairs Agency of the ministry, does not mention the source and origin of the 37 falcons.

"We did not mention the source of these falcons and it was not confirmed where they came from," Mohammad Bin Abdullah Al Sheiha, Assistant Undersecretary for Animal Wealth Affairs at the ministry, wrote.

He also supported his clarification letter with a copy of the original announcement of the culling and a copy of the notification to the GCC Secretariat General. Al Mansouri also made copies of the three documents available for the local press.

Al Mansouri said immediately after the report appearing in the daily, EAD contacted the Saudi authorities and submitted an official letter seeking clarification. He said following the official clarification it is now clear the paper's report was inaccurate.

Meanwhile, Al Mansouri announced the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi has approved another Dh2.5 million for the bird flu action plan.

"The Executive Council has approved Dh2.5 million for the purchase of two mobile incinerators for culling of infected birds. We have already ordered the incinerators, which will be available within three months," he informed.

Al Mansouri also said there are six laboratories for testing birds Abu Al Abbyadh Hospital, Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, Armed Forces Hospital in Suweihan, Sharjah Municipality, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in Sharjah and the ministry in Ras Al Khaimah.

Report
No large-scale mortality or sickness observed

The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) with the collaboration of other organisations has recorded 63,338 wild birds during recent surveys as part of the National Bird Monitoring Plan for Avian Influenza in the country.

According to a report released by the agency, no large-scale mortality or sickness was observed in birds during the monitoring of all key sites in Abu Dhabi as well as the northern emirates.

Only one dead bird, a female mallard, was collected from Khor Al Jazeera in Ras Al Khaimah and it tested negative for avian influenza, the report said.

In Abu Dhabi emirate, 16 sites were surveyed last December. Last month, six sites were monitored.

"In Dubai and the northern emirates, 13 sites were surveyed last November and 10 sites last month. These included four sites on the east coast [facing the Arabian Sea]. Six of these sites were creeks," the report said.

In Dubai and the northern emirates in November and last month, Khor Kalba had the highest number of species while Khor Al Jazeera recorded the highest number of birds.

"All the congregation sites and other survey sites were potentially safe as there are no domestic ducks and poultry in the near vicinity to contract the disease," the report said.

'There is no door-to-door vaccination campaign'

The Secretariat of the National Committee for Emergency Response to Bird Flu yesterday clarified that there is no door-to-door anti-bird flu vaccination campaign in the country.

He said any decision for a vaccination programme will be officially announced and made public. "Any such programme will come from the government. It is not a joke," he said while commenting on a Gulf News report of Shaikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) Security Department issuing an in-house memo alerting its staff members against drug addicts pretending to be medical teams.

The memo read: "Information received by the Security Department at SKMC as follows: Anyone coming to your apartment or residence, representing themselves as representative of the Ministry of Health stating they want to give you a Bird Flu Vaccine, please be aware this is not happening. These people are drug victims and rob apartments. Please be careful ?"