Srinagar: The district authorities on Monday confirmed first cases of avian influenza from the samples taken from dead crows at the two different places in this summer capital.
Samples from dead crows lifted near the Delhi Public School at Athwajan and the Flood Spill Channel at Peerbagh have tested positive for avian influenza – H5N8 strain – as per a report received from the ICAR-NISHAD Bhopal.
“Now in accordance with the stipulated guidelines a 10-kilometer radius area around each of the said locations has been declared as an alert zone — where among other measures surveillance and sampling will be conducted to ascertain and prevent the spread,” the report added.
Earlier, authorities had confirmed Avian Flu (Bird Flu) among the crows and migratory birds in the Valley on 23th of December in Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam and Budgam districts in Kashmir. The Bird Flu cases were confirmed days after the ban on import of poultry was lifted in the Union Territory.
Acting swiftly, the Government has directed for surveillance within one km radius where the cases were reported and asked for samples from Poultry farms also, they said.
Meanwhile Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary in a tweet had said, “Human or Poultry contact with Wild/Migratory birds (like feeding sources) needs to be strictly avoided,”
Meanwhile, panic has gripped several villages in the border town of Uri in north Kashmir district of Baramulla after dead crows were sighted for the second time in less than a month in three areas.
The locals have appealed to the administration to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter so that if the birds are infected the disease could be stopped from spreading by taking precautionary measures. (With agency inputs)
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
