Bird Flu Outbreak Widens in Alappuzha District

Bird flu has continued to spread across various locations in Alappuzha district, with new outbreaks recently confirmed in different areas.

The latest cases of the disease were identified in chickens at a poultry farm in ward 10 (Chathanad) in Kanjikuzhy and crows in ward 4 (Ayurveda Hospital) in Muhamma grama panchayats.

The Animal Husbandry department (AHD) sent samples from these sites to the National Institute of High-Security Animal Disease (NIHSAD) in Bhopal for testing, which subsequently confirmed the presence of avian influenza.

In response, rapid response teams from AHD will be conducting culling operations of birds, including domesticated ones, within a 1-km radius of the affected areas in the coming days.

Another incident was reported at a broiler chicken farm in ward 15 (Kurikkachira) in Cherthala municipality, where samples have been sent for analysis.

Since April this year, avian flu (H5N1) has been recorded in 17 locations spread across Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, and Kottayam districts, with Alappuzha alone reporting 12 cases.

Animal Husbandry Minister J. Chinchurani has assembled an expert team comprising scientists from the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, as well as specialists from the State Institute for Animal Diseases and the Avian Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Thiruvalla.

Chinchurani stated that the outbreak is being managed effectively, with a total of 29,120 bird deaths in the past two months and the culling of 1,02,758 birds, primarily ducks, as a containment measure.

Additionally, over 14,732 eggs and 15,221 kg of feed were destroyed in efforts to control the spread of the virus, which poses a rare but potential risk to human health.

The Health department has intensified surveillance within a 10-km radius of the affected areas and advised the public to remain cautious to prevent any potential transmission of the avian influenza virus to humans.