Bird Flu: Samples sent test negative, no case reported yet in J&K: Officials

‘People can use poultry products by taking precautions’

Srinagar: No case of Bird flu has been reported as of now in Jammu and Kashmir as the samples that were sent outside J&K for testing have tested negative, officials said on Monday.

Anil Arti Wildlife warden Jammu told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the samples that were sent for testing from Jammu have tested negative and we have no case of bird flu here.

He said samples which have tested negative include the samples which were taken in Udhampur after 153 birds had mysteriously appeared there.

He said that we are keenly monitoring the situation but as of now no positive case has been reported in J&K.

Joint director poultry and nodal officer for bird flu in Kashmir division Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Shah told KNO that the samples which were taken at three places including Dal Lake, farm of the department and Pulwama have been tested negative.

He said later few samples were taken also and their result is yet to come, however, so far no case of bird flu has been reported in J&K.

He said that people can use cooked poultry products easily and there is no need to worry.

It is pertinent to mention here that authorities in J&K also sounded high alert after bird flu cases were reported from nine states of India and said that measures are put in place to tackle the situation in case of bird flu.

Besides sounding alert, monitoring committees led by district chief animal husbandry officers have been constituted to keep vigil.

Moreover, doctors in J&K also cautioned people not to eat raw poultry parts or raw eggs, however, cooked poultry is safe to use.

They also advised that people associated with slaughtering, De-feathering and eviscerating of birds must take precaution to avoid any contraction of the virus—(KNO)