UMERKOT, Nov 15 More than 50 camels have died of an unconfirmed viral disease over the past two weeks and about 1,000 are suffering from it in Thar region, according to an estimate. The animals started dying after they returned from a camel market set up during annul Urs celebration of Sufi saint Saman Sarkar near Badin two weeks ago.

They suffered bleeding from the nose accompanied by coughing and finally died. According to camel breeders and traders more than 50 animals have died so far.

Jan Mohammad Samoon, activist of a local NGO, Aware, said that private veterinary doctors had diagnosed the disease as viral infection caused by Congo virus.

He said that villagers were trying to save the diseased camels through traditional methods and many cases were administering them opium but to no avail.

In the absence of a government veterinary doctor or team, the camel owners were forced to take their animals to private veterinarians who charged them Rs1,000 per camel, Mr Samoon said.

EDO (agriculture) Ghulamullah Jarwar denied reports of the outbreak of viral disease and said that a small number of animals were found diseased on their return from the Urs of Saman Sarkar but they recovered soon through antibiotics.

He said that about 200 dispensaries and veterinary clinics were functioning in Thar and teams were visiting villages after getting reports of the disease. He believed it was just a flue and said samples were sent to Tando Jam laboratory for further analysis.

In Thar, a camel is used for travelling in desert, fetching water, transporting loads and luggage, ploughing and recreational activities and price of a prized camel runs into Rs150,000 to 200,000. There are in an average 20 to 50 camels in each Thar village, according to 1998 census.