August 1, 2025

 

Bird flu cases reported in 10 India states as government confirms infection spread to tiger, lion, leopard, and cats

Cases of Avian Influenza, commonly known as bird flu, have been reported in 10 Indian states as of July 24, 2025, the India fishery and animal husbandry department reported.

 

Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Prof. S.P. Singh Baghelrevealed that bird flu outbreaks in domestic poultry have been reported from Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha.

So far, 41 cases have been recorded this year, compared to 49 in 2024. The highest number of cases in the last five years was in 2021, with 118 reported incidents.

 

Interestingly, the government has also confirmed sporadic cases of bird flu in non-avian species, including tiger, lion, leopard, jungle cat, and domestic cat, indicating a broader host range than typically expected.

 

To address the threat, the government has undertaken multiple initiatives aimed at prevention, surveillance, and rapid response:

    -  The National Action Plan for Prevention, Control, and Containment of Avian Influenza (Revised 2021) outlines protocols for preparedness, identification, culling, movement restrictions, and biosecurity measures. It also calls for active surveillance in poultry farms, live bird markets, and migratory bird habitats.

    -  Advisories have been issued to all States and UTs to boost preparedness ahead of the winter migratory bird season, including strengthening coordination with wildlife and health departments under the ‘One Health' approach, enforcing strict biosecurity in poultry farms, and forming Rapid Response Teams (RRTs).

    -  The Poultry Disease Action Plan, 2024 has been launched to promote a disease-free poultry sector with biosecurity guidelines tailored for both backyard and commercial farms.

    -  Under the Assistance to States for Control of Animal Disease (ASCAD) scheme, financial support is provided for compensating poultry owners for bird culling, strengthening laboratories, research, training, and public awareness.

    -  A National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT), comprising officials from key agencies like the Department of Animal Husbandry, National Centre for Disease Control, ICMR, and ICAR, has been set up to investigate and contain outbreaks.

    -  To ensure continuity in poultry trade during localized outbreaks, the government is - enabling the creation of avian influenza-free compartments for poultry products, in line with international (WOAH) guidelines.

    -  The use of the Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H9N2) vaccine, developed using an indigenous seed strain, has been approved to aid disease prevention.

    -  An AI-powered early warning system, developed under the National Animal Disease Referral Expert System (NADRES_v2) by ICAR-NIVEDI, now offers disease forecasts up to two months in advance to help with early preparedness and response.

The minister emphasised that these coordinated efforts are crucial to minimizing the spread of Avian Influenza and protecting both animal and public health.

 

-      Economic Times