Avian influenza confirmed in Tamil Nadu’s Cuddalore; over 1,500 chickens culled
CUDDALORE Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) has been confirmed in chicken samples collected from a poultry farm at Kattiyankuppam village in Kurinjipadi taluk of Cuddalore district. “The National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal, had confirmed the H5N1 avian influenza virus in samples collected from a poultry carcass on November 5, 2026,” District Collector Sibi Adhithya Senthil Kumar told The Hindu.
No major outbreak of veterinary diseases reported in Tamil Nadu: Animal Husbandry Minister No major outbreak of veterinary diseases reported in Tamil Nadu: Animal Husbandry Minister Asked about the death of 11 milch cows in Salem district, Ms. Kamali said the deaths could have been caused by a bacterial infection. Ms. Kamali also denied reports of bird flu in Namakkal district.
No major outbreak of veterinary diseases reported in Tamil Nadu: Animal Husbandry Minister storyline 1 The confirmation has triggered a full-scale containment operation, with the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Department culling all birds in the affected farm and within a one-kilometre radius of the epicentre. According to Mr. Senthil Kumar: “As many as 35,647 bird deaths were recorded in the affected belt till November 13, since the first case of sudden mortality was reported from a farm at Thamanampatti village in Thiyagavalli Panchayat on October 30.” Samples sent to four laboratories He added, “Veterinary teams that visited the farm on the day of the first report collected samples and sent them to the Poultry Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (PDDL) in Namakkal.” As deaths mounted in neighbouring farms, further samples were routed to Poultry Disease Diagnosis and Surveillance Laboratory (PDDL) Erode and the Central University Laboratory (CUL) at Madhavaram in Chennai.
Vandalur zoo to reopen tomorrow after bird flu scare Vandalur zoo to reopen tomorrow after bird flu scare The zoo authorities have requested the public to cooperate with their staff and to follow the instructions issued during the visit Vandalur zoo to reopen tomorrow after bird flu scare storyline 1 On November 5, a carcass sample was despatched to NIHSAD Bhopal, which confirmed H5N1 on November 13, he said.
Following the standard operating procedure under the National Action Plan, the district was divided into compartments to restrict the spread of the disease. Culling and disposal “Initially, we sent only one sample. But a total of 15 farms are affected, of which all the birds in 10 farms have already been wiped out. So only five farms remain, and we are going to cull all [the birds] anyway.
As many as nine Rapid Response Teams have been deployed for this purpose,” the Collector said. So far, 1,550 birds have been humanely culled, and the department is working to cull 100% of the birds in the epicentre farm and within the 1-km radius, in accordance with the Government of India guidelines, 2021. Climate change destabilising Western Ghats’ forest ecosystems in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, warn researchers Climate change destabilising Western Ghats’ forest ecosystems in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, warn researchers Climate change destabilising Western Ghats’ forest ecosystems in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, warn researchers storyline 1 The carcasses are being disposed of through deep burial in designated pits, with bleaching powder applied and biosecurity measures in place.
An official said that movement of birds to and from the affected farms has been strictly restricted. All poultry farms in and around the affected area have been brought under intensive surveillance, and disinfection using VIRKON-S — administered orally to live birds and as a farm-level spray — has been carried out as a precautionary measure. Cleaning, disinfection, and fumigation of the affected premises are in progress.
The Cuddalore district administration has asked the public not to panic, stating that the outbreak has been confined to the Cuddalore compartment and that no confirmations have been reported from the other compartments so far. Pamphlets have been circulated and residents have been advised to report any unusual bird mortality immediately to the nearest veterinary institution. Why Kerala is witnessing a decline in winter migratory birds Why Kerala is witnessing a decline in winter migratory birds Long-term surveys, bird censuses and scientific studies indicate falling numbers of several migratory species visiting Kerala during winter, with climate change and habitat degradation emerging as key concerns Why Kerala is witnessing a decline in winter migratory birds storyline 1 In the affected area, an advisory has been issued prohibiting restocking of poultry for three months.
To monitor this, the Revenue Department and local bodies are involved at the village level, the official said. Poultry farmers have been asked to strictly follow the prescribed protocols and cooperate with the containment efforts. The situation is being continuously monitored by the Animal Husbandry Department under the supervision of the District Administration.
