‘One kilometre from epicentre declared infected zone’

Jahangeer Ganaie

(Asian News Hub) – The cases of Avian Influenza (H5N8), popularly known as Bird Flu have been reported among dead crows in Wadipora village of South Kashmir’s Shopian district.

An official told the news agency—KNO, that some dead crows were found few days before in the village, following which, their samples were taken, which were tested positive.

District Magistrate Shopian, Sachin Kumar Vaishyal has issued necessary precautions to prevent spread of infection to the poultry birds.

“ICAR-NISHAD (OIE Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza) has confirmed that the samples of dead crows in the district are positive for Avian Influenza Virus H5N8,” reads the order issued by District Magistrate.

“The epicenter of the positive samples has been reported in village Wadipora, Tehsil Chitragam, District Shopian. It is imperative on the part of administration that immediate necessary action should be taken in order to prevent spread of infection to the poultry birds as well as to the general masses,” the order further reads.

“Therefore, in view of the above, in exercise of the powers vested in me under section 144 CPC, I, Sachin Kumar Vaishya, IAS ,District Magistrate, Shopian declare area within 1 km from the epicentre in village Wadipora as infected zone, area from the epicentre as an “Alert Zone”, there shall be complete restriction on arrival of poultry meat within the infected zone, Chief Animal Husbandry Officer, Shopian shall ensure sample survey and backyard poultry population survey in the zone from the epicentre, Chief Medical Officer, Shopian shall ensure surveillance of health of general public in and around epicentre, in case of culling of birds, Executive Engineer, R&B Division, Shopian shall ensure availability of necessary machinery and equipments as and when required for dumping of the dead birds and divisional Forest Officer, Wild Life, Shopian shall coordinate with Chief Animal Husbandry Officer, Shopian for collection, dis-infection and fumigation of the areas where wild birds and migratory birds are found,” the order further added.

Chief Animal Husbandry Officer, Shopian, Dr Ishrat Ahmad told that on Monday, few crows were also found dead in Balpora area of Shopian after which their samples were taken and sent for testing.

He said that rapid response teams have been deputed to disinfect the area and there is no need to worry, however, people must adhere to the protocol.

Pertinently, on Monday cases of Avian Influenza among crows were reported from Dooru area of Anantnag as well.

Barring Udhampur, cases of Avian Influenza haven’t been found among poultry birds in J&K.