Bird flu outbreak confirmed in Kerala’s Alappuzha and Kottayam districts

In a major blow to poultry farmers ahead of the Christmas-New Year season, authorities have confirmed the presence of a highly pathogenic bird flu virus in Alappuzha and Kottayam districts of Kerala.

According to officials of the Ministry of Animal Husbandry, the presence of the virus was confirmed in tests conducted at the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal. The infection was confirmed in each of the eight panchayats in Alappuzha and four villages in Kottayam.

In Alappuzha district, cases were reported from Nedumudi, Cheruthana, Karuvatta, Karthikappally, South Ambalappuzha, South Punnapra, Thakazhi and Purakkad panchayats. It was determined that chickens were infected in Nedumudi, while ducks were affected in the remaining areas.

The disease was detected in Kuruppanthara, Manjoor, Kallupurakkal and Velur villages of Kottayam. Quail and chickens were among the birds found to be infected.

Will be culled soon

An emergency meeting will be held to begin culling all domestic birds, including ducks, within a 1km radius of where the disease has been confirmed. Preventive measures, including culling of birds, will be taken as per the Central government’s revised guidelines issued in 2021, officials said.

A ban on the movement of poultry, including ducks, chickens, quails and other domestic birds will be declared within a 10-kilometer radius of the affected areas.

Meanwhile, authorities have been tasked with monitoring the situation of local institutions surrounding the affected areas.

Officials added that unlike modern poultry farming methods of raising birds indoors, duck farmers in Kuttanad villages still keep ducks outdoors, making the birds vulnerable to diseases like bird flu.