Culling Begins: Combatting Bird Flu Outbreak in Muhamma

Bird flu (H5N1) has been confirmed in Muhamma, Kerala, prompting animal culling and preventive measures. Officials have planned to cull over 5,000 birds following the outbreak, in line with India's 2021 action plan. Guidelines for containment and biosecurity have been issued to curb disease spread.

A bird flu outbreak has been confirmed in Ward 7 of Muhamma grama panchayat, triggering containment actions under the Government of India's 2021 action plan, officials announced on Thursday.

An emergency meeting chaired by District Collector Inbasekar Kalimuthu decided to cull more than 5,000 birds to prevent the H5N1 spread. The Animal Husbandry Department has deployed rapid response teams to execute the culling within a one-kilometre radius of the outbreak's center.

The administration urged public vigilance and advised reporting unusual bird deaths to veterinary hospitals. Protective measures for handling dead birds were also recommended.

(With inputs from agencies.)