Dubai: Falcons in the UAE remain free from the risk of catching the deadly bird flu virus despite a outbreak among saker falcons in Saudi Arabia last week, environment officials said.
Last week tests were carried out at the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory in Dubai on a wild saker falcon (Falco cherrug) from Saudi Arabia, reported Wildlife Middle East News.
The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 was diagnosed in the falcon and it died shortly after being admitted to a falcon hospital in Riyadh.
No post-mortem examinations or diagnostic tests were carried out to establish the cause of death.
Signs of disease
The falcon showed non-specific signs, including low appetite, regurgitation and passing of green-coloured liquids.
According to the report the diagnosis included high white cell count.
An official from the Ministry of Environment and Water in Dubai confirmed that falcons and birds in general from Saudi Arabia were banned in the UAE, greatly reducing the risk of infection.
"Tests are done regularly on birds at animal markets and on populations of wild birds. Any birds coming through customs are put straight into quarantine," he said.
Samples have been sent to the Friedrich-Loeffler Institute in Germany for further virology identification studies.
From Central Asia
The falcon was part of a large group of wild-caught sakers imported into the kingdom from Central Asia.
According to reports, a large proportion of these falcons died showing similar symptoms.
Bird flu was initially detected at a poultry farm in Saudi Arabia and 50,000 birds were culled, the Agriculture Ministry announced on November 14.
Tests were carried out after 1,500 birds died in a farm in Al Kharj region, 150km south of Riyadh.
No human case has been found and an investigation was taking place to determine the origin of the illness.
In April, Kuwait culled 1.7 million birds after the strain was found but there were no reports of human cases. Avian influenza emerged in 2003 and has caused some 205 deaths in humans.
