The Kerala State Animal Husbandry Department has stepped up precautionary measures after a central laboratory confirmed cases of avian influenza among poultry in parts of Alappuzha and Kottayam districts, officials said on Tuesday (December 23).
In Alappuzha district, the outbreak has been detected in Nedumudi, Cheruthana, Karuvatta, Karthikapally, Ambalapuzha South, Punnapra South, Thakazhi and Purakkad. In Kottayam, cases have been reported from Kurupanthara, Kallupuraykkal and Veloor.
Animal Husbandry Minister J Chinchu Rani told that samples collected from affected areas were sent to a central laboratory in Bhopal, which has confirmed the presence of avian flu in both districts. She said the cases were first noticed around a week ago and the department is now evaluating the severity of the outbreak.
The minister clarified that no restrictions have been imposed on the consumption of poultry products at present. However, she said measures such as culling of birds and restrictions on poultry meat consumption could be considered after further assessment, if necessary.
Rani noted that poultry farmers could face losses, especially as demand typically rises during the Christmas and New Year period. She added that compensation is usually provided to affected farmers, though delays in fund allocation from the Centre have, at times, required the state to rely on its own resources.
According to the minister, expert teams have already been deployed in the affected areas. She also pointed out that avian flu is often linked to migratory birds and recalled that similar outbreaks were reported last year in Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts.
