April 21, 2025

Goa, India veterinary authority keeps poultry under watch after animal deaths at zoo

The directorate of animal husbandry and veterinary services (AHVS) in Goa, India, is launching a targeted surveillance campaign to monitor poultry health across the state following the recent death of jungle cats at the Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary's zoo due to the H5N1 avian influenza strain.

Blood samples from poultry birds will be collected on April 21 and April 23 to detect any potential outbreak of the pathogenic virus.

"I have instructed all officers to remain vigilant and to report any unusual or sudden mortality among poultry birds," said AHVS director Nitin Naik. The directorate clarified that over the past two months, there were no reported cases of abnormal poultry deaths.

"Neither in domesticated chickens nor in other bird species have we seen any indications of H5N1 in Goa so far," Naik told The Times of India. "The possibility of the virus being present here is very, very slim."

The AHVS will primarily focus on testing chickens across poultry farms in Goa.

Officials said that alongside monitoring for the disease, the survey will also serve to gather updated data on Goa's poultry bird population. The directorate has urged poultry farmers and bird owners to cooperate with field staff during the sampling process and to promptly report any signs of illness or sudden bird deaths.

"We have not seen any such incidences in the poultry at any of our farms. It is surprising, therefore, that the virus can affect such big animals at the zoo," said Mario Valadares, a poultry farmer and member of the All Goa Poultry Farmers Committee.

Valadares added: "Poultry farmers in Goa are able to take all precautions to keep their animals safe from such outbreaks since we regularly vaccinate our chickens, keep them well-spread, and disinfect our farms."

- The Times of India