DUSHANBE
, April 4, Asia-Plus – Tajik veterinarians continue claiming that dead birds found in
Dushanbe
died of bird plague, which is typical for this season.
In the meantime, there can also be another cause of death of birds in the Tajik capital, according to them.
The results of tests of the dead birds, mainly pigeons, found on the roof of Tajik Transport Institute in the center of
Dushanbe
became known today morning. According to information from the Republican Veterinary Laboratory, the tests’ results have shown that the birds died of not avian influenza. “No bird flu virus has been find in their blood,” said an official with the republican veterinary laboratory, “The possibility of the birds dieing of radiation cannot be ruled out because there are many satellite dishes and other telecommunications equipment are placed on the institute’s roof.”
In the meantime, Ms. Nazira Ortiqova, an employee of the World Health Organization (WHO) Dushanbe Office, has told Asia-Plus that no confirmed cases of bird flu have been reported in
Tajikistan
so far. “According to specialists with the Republican Veterinary Laboratory, special devices have not detected the bird flu virus in the blood of the tested birds,” said Ms. Ortiqova, “However, veterinaries have failed to establish the real cause of death of the birds, which could be caused by any other virus that could not be detected by these devices.” According to her, this equipment was provided to the Republican Veterinary Laboratory by the WHO Dushanbe Office last year and Tajik specialists have already handled the devices and are operating them professionally.
At the same time, Ms. Ortiqova has not ruled out that the birds could die of radiation. “However, such a large number of dead birds found in one place evokes concern,” she said.
In the meantime,
Mullojon Amirbekov
,
Tajikistan
’s chief veterinarian, continues stating that no case of bird flu has been reported in
Tajikistan
so far. “All alarming reports received from the
Dushanbe
citizens over the past two weeks have been taken under control,” Amirbekov said.
