The Karnataka Health Department has heightened its vigilance after cases of bird flu (H5N1 avian influenza) were confirmed in Raichur, Chikkaballapur, and Ballari districts. The outbreak, detected among poultry birds, has prompted immediate action to prevent the spread of the disease, officials said on Friday.
The affected areas include Manvi taluk in Raichur, Chikkaballapur taluk in Chikkaballapur, and Sandur taluk in Ballari. Samples from dead poultry birds were collected by the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services department and sent to the Central Laboratory in Bhopal, where tests confirmed the presence of the H5N1 virus.
A senior health department official stated, as per PTI, “We have stepped up surveillance and set up facilities for isolation beds in the nearest hospitals where cases of bird flu have been detected.”Â
As part of containment measures, the Animal Husbandry department has begun culling poultry within a 3-kilometer radius of the affected areas. Additionally, isolation beds have been set up in nearby hospitals to handle any potential cases of human infection.
The official urged the public not to panic, emphasising that the state government is working closely with the Health and Animal Husbandry departments to implement preventive measures.Â
Bird flu, or avian influenza, is a highly contagious viral infection that primarily affects birds but can occasionally spread to humans. The Karnataka government has assured citizens that all necessary steps are being taken to contain the outbreak and prevent its spread to other regions or species.
Residents in the affected districts have been advised to avoid contact with sick or dead birds and to report any unusual bird deaths to local authorities.Â
Earlier, bird flu was reported in Andhra Pradesh. Recently, in a bid to address concerns over bird flu, the Poultry Association of Andhra Pradesh organised a Chicken and Egg Mela on February 24, 2025, at Rajahmundry Arts College in East Godavari district with an aim to restore public confidence in poultry consumption and provide a much-needed boost to the local poultry industry, which has been reeling from the impact of recent bird flu scares in the Telugu states.