First case of H5N8 Avian influenza detected in Anantnag Dooru

Sameer Ahmad

Anantnag: Anantnag district has reported the first case of Avian influenza( H5N8) from the Dooru area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag District.  .Following which samples of three dead crows were taken, among the three crows one crow has been found positive for the disease,  a senior official told  Arising state.

The official said that sample from a wild crow has returned positive for H5N8 from Arabal Dooru in south Kashmir’s Anantnag District.

This is the first positive case reported in the Anantnag district, but there is no need to panic as the majority of the test reports are negative, he said.

The official said that soon after the confirmation of the case, a rapid response team was deployed in the area.

The official said that SOPs are being adopted fully by the rapid response team, besides that demarcation of the infected zone.

He added that officials have been directed to survey and collect samples of the poultry including backyard and commercial poultry farms.

It is pertinent to mention that cases of avian influenza were found at various places in J&K among migratory birds and crows, however, cases of avian influenza among domestic birds were found so far in Udhampur only