Secretary, Animal/Sheep Husbandry and Fisheries Department, UT Ladakh, Ravinder Kumar have notified a complete ban on import of live birds, including poultry and unprocessed poultry meat for any purpose, into the Union Territory of Ladakh with immediate effect due to the prevailing Avian flu across the country.

He shared that the decision would be reviewed and monitored as per the evolving situation. The ban shall be in effect until further order from the UT Administration.

The step was taken as a precautionary measure according to the Revised Action Plan 2021 for Avian Influenza of the Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, and in the exercise of powers conferred under section 10 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Disease Act, 2009.
 
Ravinder Kumar further directed Deputy Commissioner of Leh and Kargil districts, Director of Animal Husbandry Department, Director of FCS&CA, to closely monitor and update the status on the situation. 

He also directed the Director of Animal Husbandry to form a disease surveillance team in both the districts to monitor government and private poultry farms, private vendors/bird sellers (both live and unprocessed), and to report any unknown death of wild birds in both districts.