KNZ NEWS DESK
BANDIPORA, Feb 01: Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Dr Owais Ahmad today chaired a meeting of officers to discuss the containment measures and arrangements to tackle the threat of avian influenza (bird flu).
The meeting was attended by Chief Animal Husbandry Officer Bandipora Dr.Munir Ahmad Qureshi, PEO Dr Syed Shariq and other senior officers of the district. The meeting discussed threadbare the issues related to the avian influenza and SOPs to check and control the possible spread of bird flu.
On the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Bandipora Dr Owais Ahmad informed that no case of any bird flu has been reported in Bandipora district so far and people need not to panic in this regard.
The meeting discussed District Action Plan and role of each concerned department in case of outbreak of bird flu. DC Bandipora said that all possible measures have been adopted by the Animal Husbandry department to keep the flu at bay.
DC Bandipora further said that the district and block level monitoring and surveillance teams have been already constituted to carry intensive surveillance in their respective areas. Dr Owais instructed the concerned to further strengthen existing Surveillance/RRTs by including officials from other departments like revenue, rural department, forest, wildlife, sheep husbandry and fisheries.
He stressed upon the officials to establish a close connect with the farmers, especially livestock breeders to ensure proper surveillance in the local farm houses for reporting any unusual sickness and mortality.
Earlier the Department of Animal Husbandry also held a day-long special training-cum-awareness programme for its field staff to make them aware about preventions, control and containment of the avian influenza. The programme was inaugurated by Additional District Development Commissioner Afsar Ali Khan. During the programme, the experts informed them about the diseases – symptoms and the SOPs to be followed in case of any avian death reported.
CAHO stressed on increasing the surveillance in the field and exhorted upon the officials to visit the poultry farms and other susceptible pockets and generate awareness among all the stakeholders. Block Veterinary officer, Technical Officer, Other Department experts besides representatives from Health, Wildlife, police, and Food safety attended the programme.
