Anantnag reports another H5N8 case, crows found dead in Shopian
Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Feb 22: After a brief lull in the Bird Flu cases across Kashmir, a sample of a dead wild crow that was collected more than a week ago from Arabal area of Dooru in district Anantnag was today confirmed to be positive for Avian influenza.
The district had earlier also reported one case of Avian influenza following which the samples were collected within one km of the epicentre. The sample that was confirmed as a case of Avian influenza was, as per officials, collected more than a week ago.
“The sample was collected around 10 days ago and today only we got the confirmation, following which preventive measures have been taken in the area with teams deployed to the epicentre,” an official said.
Soon after the confirmation of the case, Rapid Response Teams were deployed in the area which was tasked to carry out the required surveillance.
The teams deployed are set to carry out the demarcation of the epicentre, infected zone and surveillance zone. The concerned officials have also been directed to carry out a random sampling of the poultry including backyard and commercial poultry farms which is set to follow in the coming days.
Notably, the concerned department is focusing on the surveillance measures that it takes within a 10 km radius of the epicentre, while it also carries out random sampling within the one km radius of the epicentre.
So far, as per the officials, around 610 samples have been taken from the affected areas of the districts which include Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, Budgam, Kupwara and Baramulla.
The officials impressed that so far all the cases in the Kashmir valley have been reported in the wild crows only and that no case has been reported from the poultry.
“We have taken varied samples, but so far, we have only found the samples of the wild crow positive for Avian influenza. The SOPs are being followed, testing, surveillance is also being carried out thoroughly; there is no need to panic,” Dr Mushtaq Shah, Nodal Officer for the Bird Flu in Kashmir told Excelsior.
Meanwhile, several crows were found dead mysteriously in Balapora village of South Kashmir’s Shopian district today triggering panic in the area.
Officials said that around half a dozen crows were found dead in Balapora village of Shopian today morning following which the concerned department was informed.
The Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTs) teams were sent by the department to the area collected the samples of the dead crows which were then sent for testing to the Institute of Animal Health & Biological Products, Zakura Srinagar.
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