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CAN BIRD POO LEAD TO BIRD FLU?

Ajman and Sharjah residents have expressed concern about excreta of birds found on their balcony walls, cars, and laundry hangers. This is due to the influx of migratory birds into the country in large numbers.

This follows the reports in the media that migratory birds play a major role in spreading bird flu across countries. In the UAE, it is season for migratory birds to fly in.

The residents complained that local municipalities lacked professional knowledge of how to clean bird excreta. They also lament the lack of dissemination of authentic information among the public about how to deal with the menace and its health risks.

Hamad Khamees, a resident of Ajman, complained that bird excreta was found in his backyard every day. "I called the municipality and asked them to clean it up for us, but they refused, saying it is not their job. I understand that they may not come to clean it for us but at least they should give us instructions as to how to deal with it," he said. “I am forced to stop my children from playing in the backyard of my villa," he added.

Osama Ahmed, another resident of Ajman, said that his wife was scared of birds. She believed that any contact with birds would transmit the disease. He told that she had decided to keep the balcony of the house locked until the excreta was cleaned.

Nafisa Al Marzi, a housewife in Sharjah, disclosed that she threw away some new garments on which bird excreta fell while they were left to dry on the clothesline in the balcony. “I don't know what to do with the birds flocking to our balconies everyday and staining the clothes with their faeces," she said.

She also believed that the municipality should conduct awareness programmes to show the public how to protect themselves and their children from bird flu.

Meanwhile, Dr Mohammed Attia, a veterinarian at Ajman Municipality and Deputy Head of the health section said because most recent outbreaks suggested that migratory birds might have transmitted flu across countries or regions, we could not ignore the menace.

He, however, added that this has not been confirmed as yet. Movements of domestic poultry is another possible mode of transmission of disease and have been largely implicated in the spread of the disease, he added.

However, Ali Al Hamrani, Director General of Ajman Department of Municipality and Planning told residents not to panic about the bird excreta.

He said the municipality has launched protection programmes to prevent the disease from spreading in the emirate. Special teams from the health section is ready to receive public calls regarding the disease. They have also taken samples of bird excreta for laboratory tests, he assured.

"The team will also be responsible for the inspection and supervision of the poultry farms and outlets in the emirates, " he informed.

He said that the inspectors of the health section would continuously monitor the 25 poultry outlets and six farms, located in various parts of the emirate to check on the sources and ages of the birds as well as the methods being used for cleaning them.

The inspectors also obliged all workers at poultry outlets to wear special uniforms, masks and safety shoes to protect themselves from being affected by the flu. They have been directed to keep the poultry garbage in special containers to be picked up by the municipality trucks and will be buried in Isolated landfills.

The owners of poultry outlets are also instructed to keep the fans and exhaust system functioning at all times to help in throwing out polluted air and controlling the virus from being spread around such farms.