• Home
• /
• Entertainment

DEAD PIGEON FUELS SCARE

A dead white pigeon found on the balcony of an apartment yesterday triggered panic. Residents of the Al Yasmeen building in Abu Hail apprehended that it could be a case of bird flu in the light of reports on suspected bird flu outbreak in Kuwait which has already caused anxiety among ...

people in Gulf countries.

Speaking to City Times, Sanjay Dutta , a resident of the apartment, said that the neighbours and his children were scared that the dead bird could possibly affect their health. "I evacuated the apartment and my family were sitting in my car in the street till the pigeon was removed," he said.

Dutta said that he made the first telephone call to Dubai Municipality at around 10.15 am, when the dead bird was discovered in the apartment on the fourth floor. After pursuing a number of channels, Dutta managed to contact the Veterinary Services Section and its personnel arrived after one hour to remove the bird for analysis.

A source from the Municipality said an inspector of the veterinary section was rushed to the apartment and removed the pigeon after carefully putting it in a plastic bag. The inspector also used pesticides to clean the place where the bird was found and directed the tenants not to approach the area at least for 24 hours.

The inspectors were fully equipped with protection equipment and were wearing safety suits, shoes and gloves that prevent the spread of any infectious virus.

The inspector told City Times that the pigeon would be subjected to tests to determine the cause of its death. Tests will be carried out at the municipality's veterinary clinic, he said.

He urged the public not to panic, because the municipality has so far analysed several dead birds reported by people following the outbreak of bird flu around the globe.

"But, so far all results on dead birds in UAE have been negative. UAE is so far free of bird flu," the inspector assured.

A Municipality source said that the veterinary section has deployed 56 inspectors to cover all areas in Dubai and to respond to all calls regarding the dead bird and any avian flu related complaints. The section receives between 30 to 50 calls every day, regarding dead birds or pets and various problems. The inspectors always remain alert to respond to all calls and complaints.