TODAY
January 30, 2021
Scientific analysis has shown that bird flu killed at least 750 pelicans found dead last week in Senegal’s Djoudj bird sanctuary, after authorities had initially ruled out the disease.
The birds – 740 juveniles and 10 adults – were discovered in the Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary on 23 January, and the environment ministry said on Wednesday it had been closed to the public.
Now “we have the results of the analysis. It is indeed bird flu type A H5N1,” national parks director Bocar Thiam told AFP.
Environment Minister Karim Sall confirmed the bird flu diagnosis to RFM radio.
A mixture of wetlands, savannah, canals, marshes and lakes nestled in the Senegal river delta, Djoudj harbours more than three million individual birds from almost 400 species.