Neyaz Elahi
Srinagar (NVI): Bhopal based, ‘The National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD)’ have dispatched a report in which samples of some dead crows from Srinagar have tested positive for Avian Influenza – H5N8 strain.
Srinagar administration shortly after receiving the report has sounded an alert in the areas from where the samples of dead crows were lifted and subsequently had been sent to ICAR-NISHAD, Bhopal.
“Samples from dead crows lifted near the Delhi Public School (DPS) at Athwajan and the Flood Spill Channel at Peerbagh have tested positive for avian influenza – H5N8 strain – as per a report received from the ICAR-NISHAD Bhopal,” Srinagar Administration revealed.
The administration said that in accordance with the stipulated guidelines a 10-kilometer radius area around each of the said locations has been declared as alert zone – where among other measures surveillance and sampling will be conducted to ascertain and prevent the spread.
H5N8 is a subtype of the Influenza A virus and is sometimes called bird flu. Although H5N8 is considered one of the less pathogenic subtypes for humans, it is beginning to become more pathogenic. H5N8 has previously been used in place of the highly pathogenic H1N1 in studies.
-CHK
