Animal Husbandry officials in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana attributed the chicken deaths to the change in weather.
Published Feb 10, 2025 | 3:01 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 10, 2025 | 3:01 PM
Telangana on alert and Andhra Pradesh sees a surge suspected Avian Influenza deaths
Synopsis: Three districts in Andhra Pradesh reported an unusual surge in poultry death, which is suspected to be caused by avian influenza. Though the cause is yet to be scientifically confirmed, Telangana is taking no chances, and has initiated preventive measures.
Telangana has gone into alert mode after an unusual surge in poultry deaths in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
The state’s Animal Husbandry Department has sounded an alert after more than four lakh chickens died in three Andhra Pradesh districts, Eluru, West Godavari, and East Godavari.
Though not confirmed, the mass deaths of fowls over the past 45 days have caused fears of a potential outbreak of avian influenza. Preliminary findings have pointed at avian influenza — or bird flu — as the likely cause of chicken deaths.
Even as officials in Andhra Pradesh were awaiting test results of samples, Telangana ramped up preventive measures including struct surveillance, and biosecurity protocols, besides restricting poultry from the neighbouring state.
Avian influenza is a viral infection caused by influenza type A viruses that primarily affects birds, especially poultry.
The disease has two types based on its pathogenicity: Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI), which often results in mild or no symptoms, and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), which can lead to severe disease and high mortality rates in birds.
A senior official of the Animal Husbandry Department in East Godavari blamed the prolonged winter for the “unusual” but not “completely uncommon” deaths of birds.
“While this is a case of unusual mortality, it isn’t completely uncommon. During winters, the immunity of poultry goes down. The winter was long and intense, allowing the virus to grow,” the official, who did not wish to be named, told South First.
“About 2 lakh chickens died in West Godavari, with the number spiking in the past 10 days,” he explained. He continued that poultry farmers’ biosecurity measures helped in checking the spread of the virus.
However, he was unaware of the cause. “We have sent the poultry samples for testing. We are yet to receive any updates,” he stated.
An official of the Animal Husbandry Department in Eluru said the district saw over two lakh poultry deaths.
“We are awaiting the test results and are suspecting either new cattle disease or avian influenza. Preliminary tests have ruled out new cattle disease. Hence, we strongly suspect that avian influenza is causing the deaths,” he informed South First. The official, too, requested anonymity.
He added that the Animal Husbandry Department was working with the forest, panchayat, and revenue departments to address the issue.
“We have formed 20 culling teams of five members each, mobilising about 100 personnel. They will be responsible for monitoring the health of poultry. If they identify any diseases, they will kill the birds humanely, with injections or medicined water, and then burn the carcasses,” he explained.
He added that the department has also trained the teams in the action plan and stocked up 500 PPE kits.
The Telangana government recently cautioned its officials to be vigilant against the spread of the disease.
Taking cognizance of the growing number of cases in other states, the Animal Husbandry Department issued a list of precautionary measures for officials and farmers.
“There have been no reported cases of avian influenza in Telangana so far,” a department official told South First.
“While it is not a regular disease, it has become frequent across the country where some or the other state faces issues,” he explained.
The official, who requested anonymity, further listed the precautionary measures the department has initiated to tackle avian influenza:
“We have observed that the outbreak in Andhra Pradesh was primarily in broiler farms. This is poultry with very low immunity,” the official further stated.
He, too, attributed the disease to likely season changes. “Furthermore, the temperature differences between the early morning and the afternoon are drastic,” he explained.
However, the official said there was no need for panic. “No virus can survive the Indian cooking methods,” he said. He added that cooking eggs and chicken properly would kill the virus if it existed.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
