Will close our farms if ‘bird-flu’ is confirmed in poultry products: KVPFA
Srinagar, Jan 23 : The authorities in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday said that no case of avian flu has been reported in poultry birds in J&K, however, few cases have been reported in crows and migratory birds.
The administration said there is no need to panic, but there is need to follow precautions in letter and spirit.
Nodal officer for Avain Flu in Kashmir division, Dr Mushtaq Shah said that few suspected wild birds have been found positive and they have been sent to Bhopal for final confirmation.
He said that no case of bird flu has been reported among poultry birds but people must follow precautions like wear masks, wash hands frequently.
“As per government directions, our rapid response teams are on the ground and surveillance is being done within one km radius from the spot where cases were reported. Samples from nearby poultry farms are also being taken,” Shah said.
Shah said from the spot where cases have been reported, the radius of 10 kms has been declared ‘alert zone’ besides close vigil is being maintained to check any unusual mortality.
He said that people can use poultry products if it is cooked well, however, there is a need to follow precautions in letter and spirit.
Pertinently, Union Ministry of Animal husbandry has said that bird flu has been confirmed in 12 states (Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab) for Crow/Migratory/ Wild birds.
Meanwhile, Valley based poultry farm owners Saturday said that the government has so far not issued any advisory vis-à-vis bird-flu in Kashmir, stating they would instantly ‘windup’ their farms in case of the ‘outbreak’ of virus in poultry products.
“We cannot put people’s lives at risk; hence we have decided to windup our farms in case bird-flu was confirmed in poultry products. So far there is no report of any such virus in Kashmir hence people need not to panic unnecessarily,” Kashmir Valley Poultry Farms Association (KVPFA) general secretary, Farooq Ahmad Dar said.
He said bird-flu has only been confirmed in crows and migratory birds in four districts of Kashmir while poultry products were declared safe. Dar said nearly five lakh people across Jammu and Kashmir will loose work incase bird-flu is confirmed in poultry products.
He said the Union Territory administration instantly lifted ban on the import of poultry to Jammu and Kashmir after rumors regarding outbreak of bird-flu proved wrong.
Dar said had there been any case of bird-flu confirmed, administration would have issued an advisory asking poultry farm owners to discontinue sale of poultry.
“There is absolutely no reason to worry as bird-flu has not been confirmed yet, had this been the case, we would have been asked to discontinue supply. Centre ordered to reopen Ghaziabad Mandi after it was confirmed that poultry products are safe from bird-flu,” Dar added.
He said it has also not been confirmed as to what type of influenza was found in dead crows and migratory birds in some parts of the valley. He said poultry is imported only after confirmation certificate from the supplier that there is no threat of bird-flu within ten kilometer range of the farm.
“Bird-flu was not tested in any part of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir or other big markets like Haryana or Punjab. We appeal to the people not to fall prey to rumors as bird-flu has not been confirmed in poultry products,” he said reported news agency KNO.
