Health officials ask people to stay away from Sambhar lake area

JAIPUR: As a part of precautionary measures, the health department officials have alerted the residents of Sambhar not to venture into the area where hundreds of migratory birds have died.
Since the cause of death of migratory birds is unknown, the health officials are apprehensive that they might have died of highly contagious disease which could be transmitted to the humans from infected birds just like avian flu.
“Our team has inspected the area where birds have died,” said Dr K K Sharma, director of health department.
The state has recently reported cases of Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) which is transmitted to humans from infected cattle. Following the death of two people recently due to Congo fever, the health authorities have become more careful after the death of migratory birds.
A team of health department officials, headed by chief medical and health officer (Jaipur II) Dr Hansraj Bhadalia, after inspecting the affected Sambhar area, alerted the block chief medical officer of the area. He has been directed to inform the locals that they should not go near the affected site.
“We cannot ignore the death of hundreds of birds at a time when we know that diseases such as avian flu can be transmitted to humans from infected birds. However, as of now, we do not know the cause of the death as the report of the samples is still pending at laboratory in Bhopal. But, before the report arrives, we have alerted our officials as a precautionary measure,” said Dr Bhadalia.
The health department’s team also observed that the birds died were suffering from paralysis. However, the primary aim of the team was to keep the people away from the birds to avoid any risk of transmission of the disease from birds to humans.
Besides, directions have also been issued to the health authorities in Sambhar area to keep a tab on the situation. Also, directions have been issued to keep monitoring the patients of the area coming to the primary health centres and community health centres to find out if they are suffering from ‘unknown’ disease.
However, the team inspected the area has expressed satisfaction that there is no residential colony close to the site where the birds have died.