India: Bird flu in poultry in Kerala: 2022-2026

[Commonground]

January 1, 2026
Bird Flu Outbreaks In India: Symptoms And Preventive Tips

Excerpt:

Earlier, poultry farms in Tamil Nadu's Namakkal district, which is one of the largest egg-producing hubs in the country, stepped up biosecurity and surveillance measures to prevent the spread of the disease. Namakkal alone accounts for nearly 1,500 poultry farms and produces millions of eggs daily, supplying markets across several Indian states and overseas.

Bird flu not only affects domestic poultry such as chickens, ducks and turkeys but can also spread through wild and migratory birds. In some cases, there's also a risk of transmission to humans. The World Health Organization (WHO), from 2003 to August 2025, reported 990 human cases of bird flu across 25 countries. This also includes 475 deaths which indicates a 48% fatality rate. With such a high fatality rate, it is important to stay cautious and prevent the spread.
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But first, what is bird flu?​...
-snip-

Symptoms of Bird Flu

• Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Cough
• Muscle aches
• Sore throat
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Shortness of breath (dyspnoea)

Symptoms can be mild or severe. To prevent bird flu, focus on avoiding exposure to infected birds or contaminated environments while maintaining hygiene. Here are some of the ways to prevent bird flu.

Preventive Tips for Bird Flu...
-snip-

​​With inputs from IANS)
Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.

https://www.ndtv.com/health/bird-fl...bird flu (avian,from spreading into the state.
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[Commonground]

Bird Flu Alert: Tamil Nadu To Step Up Surveillance Along Kerala Border
January 1, 2026
With a rise in avian influenza cases reported in parts of Kerala, authorities in Tamil Nadu have intensified surveillance along the border districts.
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Chennai:
With a rise in avian influenza cases reported in parts of Kerala, including Alappuzha and Kottayam, authorities in Tamil Nadu have intensified surveillance along the border districts to prevent the disease from spreading into the state. Enhanced monitoring has been put in place, particularly in the Nilgiris and Coimbatore districts, which share a long and porous boundary with Kerala. Acting on the directions of the Animal Husbandry Department, special preventive measures have been initiated under the supervision of Joint Director Dr Balakrishnan. As part of these efforts, check posts have been established at Gudalur and Panthalur taluks in the Nilgiris district to closely monitor the movement of poultry and related materials from Kerala.
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-snip-
There is also a risk of transmission to humans, making early detection and prevention critical.

Authorities have advised poultry farmers to strictly adhere to biosecurity measures. Farmers have been instructed to prevent wild birds from entering poultry farms, avoid rearing different species of birds together, restrict the entry of outsiders and vehicles into farm premises, and refrain from sharing farm equipment.

Disinfection of farm tools and equipment at least twice a month has been made mandatory. Farmers have also been urged to immediately report any unusual illness or sudden deaths among birds to the nearest veterinary assistant or animal husbandry office, enabling swift containment measures to prevent the spread of avian influenza.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
​https://www.ndtv.com/health/bird-fl...-up-surveillance-along-kerala-border-10165821
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[Commonground]

Bird flu outbreak in India: Early symptoms, preventive tips ..
January 2, 2025

Excerpts:

The virus mainly infects poultry and wild birds and occasionally infects mammals including crows and big cats, but it creates a dangerous human health threat when people touch infected animals, or their contaminated surroundings. Initially, this presents as typical flu symptoms, but they can develop into dangerous pneumonia. Let's learn more...​

...Early symptoms to spot first
The initial symptoms of Bird flu resemble typical cold or seasonal flu symptoms, which appear one to three days following contact with contaminated bird waste, feathers or saliva. Look for sudden high fever above 38°C, chills shaking the body, dry cough, sore throat, and runny nose. The body experiences muscle pain which moves from arms to legs and spine, while fatigue reaches critical levels to prevent any basic activities. The nose produces both runny and stuffy discharge, which becomes more severe by the minute while headaches intensify their pressure on the eyes. Children need close monitoring for nausea, vomiting and loose stools which occur without any food consumption. The eyes of patients develop symptoms which include redness, tearing, swelling and pain, that resemble viral conjunctivitis when they touch their eyes during handling.​

...Breathing trouble​...

...When symptoms turn serious​...

Who faces the highest risk right now
The group which includes poultry farmers, veterinarians, slaughterhouse workers and live bird market sellers, faces the highest risk because they breathe in dust while handling fluids without protective equipment. The death of backyard chickens or duck ponds creates a risk for pet owners who have these animals. The infection causes worse health outcomes for children, who play near ponds with dead wild birds and for elderly patients, with lung problems and people who have asthma. People who visit outbreak areas including Kerala wetlands, become exposed to the disease. Healthy adults usually have the ability to fight off light infections.​

Continued: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshowprint/126303993.cms

 

[Commonground]

[emphasis is mine]

‘Mutated coronavirus behind seasonal flu‑like illness in TN’
January 2, 2026

Public health authorities in Tamil Nadu have identified a mutated form of the coronavirus as one of the causes behind the current wave of seasonal flu‑like symptoms spreading across the state.

snip

Since September 2025, thousands of residents across Tamil Nadu have reported symptoms such as fever, fatigue, dry cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, and joint pains. While many cases resemble ordinary seasonal influenza, health department officials have attributed a significant share of these illnesses to a variant of the coronavirus that has undergone genetic changes but remains less potent than earlier pandemic strains.

Authorities emphasise that the current circulating coronavirus variant is not causing severe disease. Most affected individuals recover within just a few days after standard treatment for flu‑like illnesses. However, some people—especially those with prolonged dry cough lasting up to four to eight weeks—have reported lingering respiratory symptoms even after fever subsides.

snip

Officials have urged the public not to panic, even as flu‑like illnesses circulate. Preventive measures such as regular hand washing, wearing masks in crowded spaces, and staying home when sick can help reduce transmission of respiratory viruses—be it influenza or coronavirus variants.

https://newstodaynet.com/2026/01/02/mutated-coronavirus-behind-seasonal-flu-like-illness-in-tn/

A 2nd article (same as above) from another site:
https://chennaivision.com/mutated-coronavirus-behind-seasonal-flu-like-illness-tn-health-officials/

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[Lance]

India - High pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (Inf. with) (poultry) - Immediate notification

India - High pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (Inf. with) (poultry) - Immediate notification


GENERAL INFORMATION


COUNTRY/TERRITORY OR ZONE


ZONE


ANIMAL TYPE


TERRESTRIAL


DISEASE CATEGORY


Listed disease


EVENT ID


7161


DISEASE


High pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (Inf. with) (poultry)


CAUSAL AGENT


Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus


GENOTYPE / SEROTYPE / SUBTYPE


H5N1


START DATE


2025/12/09

REASON FOR NOTIFICATION


Recurrence of an eradicated disease


DATE OF LAST OCCURRENCE


2025/05/19

CONFIRMATION DATE


2025/12/22

EVENT STATUS


On-going


END DATE


- SELF-DECLARATION


NO REPORT INFORMATION


REPORT NUMBER


Immediate notification


REPORT ID


IN_179241


REPORT REFERENCE


- REPORT DATE


2026/01/05


REPORT STATUS


Validated


NO EVOLUTION REPORT


- EPIDEMIOLOGY


SOURCE OF EVENT OR ORIGIN OF INFECTION

• Unknown or inconclusive

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL COMMENTS


No epidemiological comment QUANTITATIVE DATA SUMMARY


MEASURING UNIT


Animal

Birds (DOMESTIC)

NEW 84389

cases 54100

deaths 54100

killed/slaughtered 30289--





DIAGNOSTIC DETAILS


CLINICAL SIGNS


YES



METHOD OF DIAGNOSTIC


Diagnostic test

Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR)	National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal, India	Birds	11	2025/12/22	2025/12/22	Positive

CONTROL MEASURES AT EVENT LEVEL CONTROL MEASURES AT EVENT LEVEL
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
WILD ANIMALS Disinfection

Applied



Movement control

Applied



Official disposal of carcasses, by-products and waste

Applied



Quarantine

Applied



Screening

Applied



Stamping out

Applied



Surveillance outside the restricted zone

Applied



Surveillance within the restricted zone

Applied


NEW OUTBREAKS

ob_176263 - Ward 5, Punnapra South

ob_176262 - Ward 8, Ambalappuzha South

ob_176264 - Ward 6, Purakkadob_176265 - Ward 1, Cheruthana

ob_176266 - Ward 16, Karuvattaob_176258 - Ward 10, Thakazhy

ob_176267 - Ward 4, Karthikappallyob_176260 - Ward 37, Kottayam Municipality

ob_176268 - Ward 5 , Nedumudiob_176261 - Ward 38, Veloor, Kottayam Municipality

ob_176259 - Ward 5, Kurupamthara, Manjoor​




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​​wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7161

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.devdiscourse.com/articl...-as-bird-flu-hits-alappuzha-and-kozhikode?amp

Containment Efforts in Full Swing as Bird Flu Hits Alappuzha and Kozhikode
Bird flu (H5N1) has been confirmed in Alappuzha and Kozhikode districts, leading to the culling of over 20,000 birds. Authorities are implementing containment measures, including culling, mopping, and combing operations. The public is advised to report unusual bird deaths and follow safety guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus.
Devdiscourse News Desk| Thiruvananthapuram | India
Updated: 19-03-2026 21:04 IST | Created: 19-03-2026 21:04 IS​

The bird flu outbreak in Alappuzha and Kozhikode districts has prompted decisive action, with officials planning to cull over 20,000 domestic birds. The Animal Husbandry Department, alongside district administrations, has ramped up containment measures, aiming to curb the spread of the H5N1 virus.

Emergency meetings spearheaded by district collectors have strategically outlined operations, including culling, mopping, and combing of affected areas. The highly pathogenic avian influenza was detected through samples tested at the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal...


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