J&K denies Pak media report of bird flu in PoK via India

Srinagar, Feb 24 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir government today refuted a Pakistani media report suggesting that the deadly bird flu virus (H5N1) has reached border areas of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) from India.

Deputy Director of the Jammu and Kashmir Animal Husbandry Department Dr Farooq Ahmed Kaloo told UNI that there are no reports of the deadly H5N1 virus in poultry in Jammu and Kashmir so far.

However, he asserted that the department was fully prepared to meet any eventuality.

Dr Kaloo said the Animal Husbandry Department teams have been sent to all border areas of the state to monitor the situation and take all preventive measures.

Pakistan's Frontier Post reported that the bird flu (avian influenza) had reached border areas of PoK from India as thousands of chickens were reported to be found dead in Dhadiyal and Mirpur across the Line of Control (LoC).

UNI AG ASM YA RK1819