Crow deaths in Tamil Nadu spark bird flu scare, poultry farms put on high alert

Chennai: Amid reports of large-scale crow deaths and rising concerns over a possible avian influenza (bird flu) outbreak, the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries has issued a detailed advisory outlining biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of infection among poultry, wild birds and humans.

At the same time, the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (DPH) released a public health alert urging people to remain vigilant and follow safety protocols.

What the advisory says

Health officials have advised citizens to seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms such as fever, cough, cold or breathing difficulty — especially if they have been in contact with birds.

The advisory places special emphasis on slaughterhouse workers, poultry handlers and those handling sick or dead birds, urging them to take extra precautions. The public has been asked to promptly report any unusual bird deaths or clusters of illness to the animal husbandry department.

Veterinary teams and field staff have been directed to intensify surveillance in all districts to detect sudden illness or deaths among crows, wild birds and domestic poultry.

Officials have also instructed that post-mortems on birds should not be conducted in open areas. Instead, carcasses must be sent to designated Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratories for testing.

To prevent environmental contamination and spread through scavengers, authorities said dead birds must be incinerated or buried deep, and the public must never touch carcasses with bare hands. If unavoidable, gloves should be used and hands washed thoroughly afterward.

Wildlife areas and poultry farms on high alert

Mudumalai Tiger Reserve Deputy Director M.G. Ganesan confirmed that wildlife divisions have been placed on high alert to closely monitor bird populations in forest regions.

Poultry farms across the state have been advised to restrict visitor access, strengthen farm-level biosecurity and report any unusual bird deaths immediately.

Awareness drive and market monitoring launched

The department has also called for an extensive Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign to spread awareness about the symptoms and risks of avian influenza. Special monitoring has been initiated at live bird markets and wet markets, while movement of poultry and related products is being regulated in border areas.

District administrations have been directed to review preparedness levels and ensure adequate equipment and response mechanisms are in place to tackle any potential outbreak swiftly.

IANS inputs