Srinagar: After crows, pigeons have been found dead in parts on Srinagar on Thursday.
Nodal officer for Avian influenza in Jammu and Kashmir Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad Shah told a local news agency, Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that some pigeons have been found dead in Chattabal and Pandreathan area of Srinagar on Thursday.
He said that crows were also found dead in Shopian, Budgam and other parts of valley on Thursday as well. He added that samples of both crows and pigeons have been taken and sent for testing, the reports of which will come in next two to three days.
He said that wherever birds are being found dead, SOPs are being followed and area is being fumigated. He said that no case of bird flu has been reported among poultry birds and people must follow precautions like wear masks, wash hands frequently.
The nodal officer said that as per government directions, the rapid response teams are on the ground and surveillance is being done within one km radius from the spot where cases were reported and samples from nearby poultry farms are also being taken.
He said that from the spot from where cases have been reported, a radius of 10 kms has been declared an alert zone besides said that close vigil is being kept to check any unusual mortality.
“People can use poultry products if it is cooked well, however, there is need to follow precautions in letter and spirit,” the nodal officer told KNO.
Pertinently, cases of avian influenza have been confirmed among wild birds in eight districts of J-K and cases of the flu have been found in Udhampur and Bandipora among domestic birds. —(KNO)
