December 26, 2012

The poultry sector in parts of Indian-controlled Kashmir was badly hit by the outbreak of Ranikhet disease.

"We have collected the samples and send them to forensic lab for testing. Apparently the symptoms are of Ranikhet disease," said an official at divisional commissioner office in Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

The viral disease resulting in death of poultry birds has severely hit poultry business. According to officials, the disease was first detected Saturday (Dec 22) in Budgam district and subsequently spread to Srinagar, Pulwama and Ganderbal districts.

Farmers and poultry farm owners accuse the region's Animal Husbandry Department of apathetic towards the situation. The farmers say they have suffered heavy losses as mortality rate was increasing with each passing day. "Nearly 50,000 birds have died at poultry farms since the outbreak of this disease," said Bashir Ahmad Sofi, vice-president of Kashmir Poultry Farmers Union. "The department has failed to check the disease from spreading it."

Sofi demands government should compensate poultry farms for the loss. Reports said the disease has taken a toll on poultry in Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora districts.

The farmers have urged authorities to impose ban on import of poultry from Indian states fearing that the viral disease might have come from outside Kashmir. However, Animal Husbandry Director Ghulam Rasool Mir said the viral disease broke out due to stressful climatic conditions. "Ranikhet disease could break out any time with the stressful climatic conditions," said Mir. "Our teams have been vaccinating the affected poultry across the valley to prevent the disease from spreading. The efforts are showing encouraging results."

The Department of Animal Husbandry has also issued paid advertisements in local newspapers cautioning people about symptoms and precautions of Ranikhet disease.

A statement issued by divisional commissioner office said Ranikhet disease is non-communicable to humans and the virus gets destroyed with heat while cooking. However, the divisional commissioner has directed the animal husbandry officials to ensure that only healthy chickens are kept available in the market for human consumption.