BIRD-WATCHERS and local residents have been concerned about the mysterious deaths of pigeons near the Ipoh Padang fountain in Perak.
This is especially so after a video went viral on Facebook
However, is it true that these pigeons have died from a major avian disease?
VERDICT:
FALSE
Laboratory tests have confirmed that the dead pigeons found near the Ipoh Padang fountain did not die from major avian diseases, said the Perak Veterinary Services Department (DVS).
In a statement on its Facebook page on Thursday (May 8), the DVS said samples from the bird carcasses tested negative for diseases.
"Verifications have been done on the pigeon carcasses through the Quantitative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction test (qRT-PCR) for Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease, along with PCR testing for Avian Adenovirus," it said.
On May 4, a user named "Taiping Kini" uploaded a video to Facebook showing several dead pigeons near the fountain.
The footage has since gone viral on social media.
Samples were taken by the DVS from the carcasses for testing on Monday (May 5).
The DVS also said organ samples sent to the Chemistry Department for poison detection have yet to return any results.
"There has also been no new deaths reported to date," it said, adding that poisoning might be a possible cause.
"The pigeons at Ipoh Padang appeared normal and did not display any clinical signs of illness.
We advised the public to report any bird deaths in the area via our hotline at 05-545 9111," it added.
