Tamil Nadu sounds high alert after crow deaths raise avian flu fears

The Tamil Nadu government has sounded a high alert after reports of large-scale crow deaths raised fears of avian influenza. Authorities have issued advisories, stepped up surveillance and urged the public to report unusual bird deaths to prevent the spread of infection

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government on Friday sounded a high alert following reports of large-scale crow deaths in various parts of the State, triggering concerns over a potential outbreak of avian influenza.

In a swift response to the mounting biosecurity threat, the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries issued a comprehensive advisory mandating stringent precautionary measures for poultry farmers and handlers of wild birds across the State.

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Speaking to PTI, Director of Public Health Dr A Somasundaram said the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (DPH) has also released a separate communication, appealing to the public to follow strict safety protocols.

“Based on the Central government’s circular regarding the prevalence of avian flu in Tamil Nadu, we have issued the advisory,” he added.

The DPH has advised individuals to seek immediate medical assistance if they experience flu-like symptoms, including cough, cold, fever or breathing difficulties. Specific caution has been urged for those working in slaughterhouses and personnel handling sick or dead birds.

Meanwhile, the Animal Husbandry department has directed its officials to intensify surveillance and step up vigil to detect any unusual sickness or mortality among crows, migratory birds and commercial poultry.

Sources said that under the new protocols, veterinary staff have been strictly instructed to refrain from conducting autopsies of dead birds in the field. Instead, they have been advised to refer all carcasses to designated Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratories to ensure clinical accuracy and containment.

To prevent the spread of infection through scavenging, the advisory further mandated that dead birds must be either burnt or buried deep.

The authorities have also urged the public to immediately inform the Animal Husbandry department of any unusual bird deaths to facilitate a rapid response and prevent a potential zoonotic spillover to humans.