Avian influenza outbreak reported at poultry farms in India

In particular, owners of poultry farms where mortality was recorded are already culling poultry to prevent the spread of the virus. The state government has formed 721 special teams to quickly respond and control the outbreak. They are inspecting all villages located near poultry farms.

There have been no reports of avian influenza in other parts of the state, the state veterinary department assured. The department took random samples from poultry farms in other parts of the state to test them for avian influenza, but the results were negative. The state of Andhra Pradesh is located in the southeast of the country along the coast.

At the same time, information about the outbreak of a dangerous disease led to a drop in sales of poultry meat last Sunday, reports the local publication The Hindu.

“Due to the outbreak of bird flu A (H5N1) in Nellore, we have not eaten chicken for the last two days,” a local resident told the publication.

Local farmer Rama Krishna noted that authorities have urged poultry owners not to throw dead birds into canals, fields and open areas. In case of death of the bird, the authorities have been asked to notify the concerned officials, he added.