Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 27: A poultry bird was today said to have tested positive for the Avian Flu in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district prompting the district authorities to take a slew of measures to contain the spread of the infection in the affected area of the district.
Earlier, almost all the cases were found in the dead crows, while earlier, domestic geese in the Hajin area of district Bandipora were also tested positive for the H5N8 infection. However, in poultry, this has been the first case in the Kashmir division.
District officials said that a sample of poultry from Iqbal market Baramulla tested positive for the Avian Flu and after which a 10-kilometre radius from the epicentre has been declared as ‘Alert Zone’ apart from other restrictions that have been imposed.
Chief Animal Husbandry Officer, Baramulla Dr Sayed Anwar Andrabi told Excelsior that they have taken a slew of measures in the affected area and are trying to locate the source of the infection.
He said that the teams are trying to trace the chain from where the bird which has tested positive has come from. “So far we have come to know that the bird has been brought from Pulwama; we are trying to locate all the possible contacts as of now,” he added.
He impressed that there is a need for taking precautions and once everything goes on well, the affected area will be de-notified.
In this regard, an order was also issued here by the Deputy Commissioner which read: “Director Animal Husbandry Department Kashmir vide letter number DAIIK/Tech/A-59/18534-40 Dated: 24.02 2021 has intimated that a sample of poultry from Iqbal Market, Old Town Baramulla has been declared positive for Avian Influenza virus (HSN8) by the ICAR NISHAD and it has been recommended that surveillance of the affected areas be intensified besides declaring the epicentres as Alert Zones to check the spread of the Influenza, reads the order issued by District Magistrate Baramulla.
The order said that a radius of 10 km from the Khan Chicken point Iqbal Market, Old Town Baramulla is hereby declared as ‘Alert Zones’. Accordingly, the Animal Husbandry Department shall keep the aforementioned area/Market under surveillance and conduct random sampling within 10 km of the said shop.
The officials said that the movement of the poultry as well as the products has been stopped forthwith from the affected area, while as the vehicles carrying the same will be stopped.
The DM has directed the Chief Animal Husbandry Officer Baramulla, Wild Life Warden North and Divisional Forest Officer, Kamraz to intensify surveillance within the Notified Zones and also conduct random sampling of organized Poultry Farms and backyard poultry units within Alert Zone.
“Besides keeping a vigil on other birds, Bio-security has to be strengthened & disinfection in the entire area where the mortality in birds has been reported to be carried out in collaboration with Forest Department, the dead birds (if any) should be disposed of by deep burial,” the order said.
For sample collection and testing, the DM directed that whole birds may be sent to the lab and dead bird(s) should not be kept in open without ensuring bio-safety and zoo-sanitary measures. Surveillance of poultry may be also intensified in the area, to and fro movement of poultry/ poultry products and vehicles carrying the same to be stopped.
The DM directed that no movement of poultry, eggs, dead carcasses, manure, used Litter, arm machinery, equipment of any such material should be allowed to and from the alert zone to prevent the spread of disease to other poultry birds & human beings. “The guidelines already circulated by Animal Husbandry Department may be adhered to in letter and spirit. Forest & Wildlife Department has been directed to take all necessary measures to prevent the spread of disease.”
“An updated report in respect of the aforesaid area epicentre shall be sent immediately to the Animal Husbandry Department as well as this office and Tehsildar/ SHO concerned shall keep a strict vigil in the said area and shall ensure that advisory is adhered to in letter and spirit and they shall remain in contact with Nodal Officer Bind Flue (Poultry Development Officer, Baramulla) contact No. 7780958162,” the order added.
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