MidnightWatcher – Prophecy in Motion

The Frontier Post- “KARACHI: Interior Sindh has hit by another mysterious disease among the birds and animals when the hundreds of sheep fallen sick after struck by unknown disease. Umerkot District remains the target of mysterious diseases in livestock following death of dozens of dozens of wild peacocks in Thar Desert about a couple of weeks back.

According to Livestock Department, veterinary experts dispatched to the affected area visited local villages and undertook tests of sick cattle.

Experts fear that the disease could spread to other areas if it was not timely contained.

Earlier, dozens of wild peacocks died suddenly in Thar, prompting experts to fear an outbreak of the highly contagious Newcastle disease.

Officials confirmed the deaths of at least 60 peacocks while locals claimed this figure has reached to over 100.

The wildlife ministry said tests were being done to diagnose the cause of death, but said the wild peacocks had been weakened by starvation, deforestation and a lack of safe drinking water blamed on delays to the annual monsoon rains.

Experts are alarmed by the number of deaths, suspecting they may have been afflicted with Newcastle disease, known locally as ‘Ranikhet’.

Newcastle disease is a worldwide problem among birds and sporadic outbreaks can occur frequently. Affected birds suffer from loss of appetite, coughing, sneezing, diarrhoea, and in severe outbreaks a high proportion die.

The wildlife department said it was supplying fresh water to peacocks in affected areas.” Source – The Frontier Post.