The deaths of seagulls in Ağın district of Elazığ had worried the citizens. After dozens of seagulls were found dead at the water’s edge, teams from the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry took action. Samples were taken from dead or nearly dead seagulls from 10 different locations and examined. As a result of the first evaluation made by the institutes, it was determined that NDV was present in the birds, and it was reported that further examinations were continuing. Thousands of seagulls perished on the coast of the Hurşit Bird Forest and on the islet that is the breeding ground for the seagull birds in the region. It was determined that the cause of the deaths, which caused panic among the surrounding citizens, was the Newcastle disease virus (NDV), popularly known as the false plague.
In the statement made by the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, “On 20.04.2024, it was reported that there were seagull deaths on the coast of the Hurşit Bird Forest in the Ağın district of Elazığ province and on the islet that is the breeding ground of the seagull birds in the region. Upon the notice, the necessary determinations were made by veterinarians working at the Ağır District Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry on the same day, and samples of dead or nearly dead seagulls were taken from 10 different locations in the reported region and delivered to the Elazığ Veterinary Control Institute Directorate in a cold chain. “The analysis of the samples was started by the Institute Directorate on the same day.”
“AS A RESULT OF THE FIRST EVALUATION, IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE NDV”
In the statement, “Technical personnel from the Provincial Directorate, under the coordination of Elazığ Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, were assigned to the region where seagull deaths were reported, and technical teams carried out scanning and information work in the mentioned region. The dead seagulls in the region were collected by the teams of the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry through contact tracing teams within the region, and all risks were eliminated by taking all precautions within the framework of the regulation. As a result of the initial evaluation of the sample results by the relevant institutes, it was determined to be Newcastle disease (NDV), and further examinations are continuing. “The process is being followed meticulously.”
“SEAGHGUARD ISLAND HAS BECOME DEATH ISLAND”
Salih Genç, one of the residents of the region, said, “They said that seagulls were dying on the shoreline by the lake. So we went down. We had never heard of such a thing until this age. There is a seagull island behind us, it would be a place where seagulls feast at these hours. But right now, the seagull island is empty and there is death.” “Their cub was born about 15 days ago. The coastline is now in a bad state and is full of dead animals,” he said.
Oktay Kılıç said, “I lived on this coast, in this dam area, throughout my childhood. I have never seen anything like this, nor have I witnessed anyone who has seen it. We drank water and brewed tea here, but there was no death in fish or any living creature. Due to the ongoing migrations one after the other. “There has been a decrease in the number of fish and other creatures, especially in bird species. We started to worry when we saw such mass deaths in seagulls,” he said.
FIRST ASSESSMENT ON THE FALSE PLAGUE
On the other hand, samples were taken from dead or nearly dead seagulls from 10 different points and examined by officials from the Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry. As a result of the first evaluation made by the institutes, it was determined that NDV was present in the birds, and it was reported that further examinations were continuing. In the statement made by the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, “It has been reported that there were seagull deaths on the coast of the Hurşit Bird Forest in the Ağın district of Elazığ province and on the islet that is the breeding ground of the seagull birds in the region. Upon the notice, the necessary determinations were made by veterinarians working at the Ağır District Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry on the same day, and samples of dead or nearly dead seagulls were taken from 10 different locations in the reported region and delivered to the Elazığ Veterinary Control Institute Directorate in a cold chain.