With bird flu cases rising across multiple states and now spilling over into wildlife, the Indian government has issued a stern directive to poultry farms clean up, register, and tighten biosecurity within a month or face consequences.
The warning comes as avian influenza continues to spread across regions like Jharkhand, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh, affecting not just poultry but also wild birds and even big cats, signaling a worrying trend of cross-species transmission.
At a high-level meeting led by Animal Husbandry and Dairying Secretary Alka Upadhyaya, officials emphasized the urgency of a three-pronged strategy: improve hygiene, enforce strict biosecurity protocols, and ensure all poultry farms are officially registered.
Experts at the meeting also reviewed India’s preparedness against Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). While vaccines currently in use such as the commercially authorized H9N2 vaccine can reduce virus shedding, they do not stop infections entirely. As a result, work is underway to develop an indigenous vaccine specifically targeting HPAI strains.
With bird flu now seen as more than a poultry industry problem one that could pose broader ecological and health risks officials stressed that surveillance, containment, and responsible farming practices are key to preventing a larger crisis.
The next few weeks are seen as critical. If poultry farms fail to follow the government’s directives, the consequences could impact not just local economies but also public health and biodiversity.