Random samples collected from epicentre Hardshiva

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 30: Experts from the Animal Husbandry Department Baramulla today carried out random sampling of domestic birds including poultry within the 1 km radius of the Hardshiva in Sopore after the area was declared as ‘Alert Zone’.
On the directions of Dr S. M. A. Andrabi, Chief Animal Husbandry Officer Baramulla two Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) supervised by Dr Ab Ahad War (LDO, Sopore) under the overall command of Dr Daljit Singh (DIO Baramulla) reached the spot and conducted random sampling within 1KM radius of the epicentre.
Earlier on Friday, the District Administration Baramulla announced that a sample of a crow that was collected for testing has been declared positive for Avian Flu, following which it had issued an advisory directing for precautionary measures while declaring the area as the epicentre.
The doctors of the RRT collected nasopharyngeal, cloacal and blood samples from the birds in the epicentre, disinfection of the area was done and awareness about the disease was spread in the local populace.
“Surveillance was undertaken within the 10 km area too. People were requested to follow advisories of the department without getting panicked,” Dr Andrabi told Excelsior.
Notably, the Nodal Officer to the Bird Flu in the district has informed the concerned department that no unusual mortality was observed in the district today.