Bird Flu Scare: Maharashtra Culls Over 7,000 Poultry Birds, AP-Telangana on High Alert; Should You Be Worried?

Bird Flu In India: The Animal Husbandry Department in Maharashtra has culled over 7000 poultry birds in Maharashtra along with destroying over 2,000 eggs since January this year after seven areas have been affected by bird flu or H5N1 avian influenza. According to officials, most of the outbreaks have been reported in unorganised and backyard poultry farms.

The latest outbreak was reported from the village of Mangli in Chandrapur district, where at least 2,065 birds were killed under a 5 km distance from the area where the first incident was reported. As per protocol, all birds, eggs, and animal feed have to be destroyed within the outbreak radius.

Officials said till now Maharashtra has reported seven epicentres of bird flu incidents from the districts of Latur, Nanded, Nagpur, Thane, Raigad, and Chandrapur. Other than poultry, bird flu has been reported in tigers, leopards, vultures, and crows.

To date, 693 animals and birds have been killed due to the flu, including the cats, housed in the Gorewada Rescue Center in Nagpur. Three white-backed vultures have also died of bird flu at the center.

Officials from the animal husbandry department said as of now no single case has been reported from organised poultry firms, which have reportedly undertaken bio-security measures and ensured their birds do not come in contact with any migratory birds to prevent any outbreak.

There has also been a stir in the Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, where sudden deaths of chickens have been identified due to the H5N1 virus. Many chickens have reportedly died in parts of AP and Telangana due to the virus. A significant number of chickens have died in Khammam and Sathupalli, as well as in both Godavari districts.

The state Animal Husbandry Department had sent samples of the dead chickens to Bhopal for diagnosis, which confirmed avian influenza as the cause of deaths.

According to experts, the virus is spread by migratory birds that visit the Kolleru region every year from various countries during the winter season. Experts say the virus reached the reservoirs when the birds defecated in the water. It is estimated that the chickens became infected through the water.

Bird flu is an infection from a type of influenza that usually spreads in birds and other animals. Sometimes, humans can get bird flu from infected animals. Doctors say that like the versions of the flu that most people usually get, avian influenza can make you severely ill.

Even though it is extremely rare for it to spread from person to person, there have been cases reported recently in the US where two people died in California and one teenager lost his life in Canada due to the infection. The rise in bird flu cases has been concerning because it increases the risk of human infection, affects wildlife, and can reduce the food supply. There have been ongoing cases of human infections in the US since 2024.

• Pink eye or conjunctivitis
• High fever
• Fatigue
• Cough and cold
• Muscle aches
• Sore throat
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Breathlessness

These symptoms can be mild or severe. Most recent cases of bird flu in the US have caused pink eye and mild respiratory symptoms.

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