Department of Wildlife Resources<\/a> and other state agencies are investigating.<\/p>\nAbout 15 dead black vultures were discovered early Tuesday afternoon. <\/p>\n
Multiple agencies were called to the scene to investigate the cause of death and test for avian flu.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe PD was made aware when a pedestrian saw some dead vultures, and so they initiated calls to other departments, including DWR; that\u2019s what started the investigation,\u201d said Rocky Mount Mayor Holland Perdue.<\/p>\n
Perdue said the vultures were found near a wooded lot on the corner of Dent Street and Franklin Street.<\/p>\n
He said the Town\u2019s water system was not impacted because the Water Treatment Plant does not draw water from the shallow creek.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re waiting on the reports to come back on, on the cause of death, and once we know that we\u2019ll know more, and we\u2019ll update the community with that,\u201d added Perdue.<\/p>\n
The Department of Wildlife Resources said there have been recent cases of bird flu in black vultures, so they are treating this as a suspected case.<\/p>\n
The Department is sending off test samples to the University of Georgia and will give the results to the Town of Rocky Mount as soon as they get back.<\/p>\n
If there is a positive case, the test samples will then get sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratories to confirm the results.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re asking people to stay away from that area for the time being. And if it is avian flu, we\u2019ll let the public know and let them know what to be cautious of,\u201d closed Perdue.<\/p>\n
Officials with the Department of Wildlife said they expect to see preliminary test results by the end of next week.<\/p>\n
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