Authorities in Telangana have been on high alert after a large number of chickens died due to bird flu. 24 check posts have been set up on the Telangana borders to prevent the entry of chicken vehicles from AP. Authorities have set up three check posts in Umnadi Nalgonda district and are sending back vehicles carrying chickens from AP to Telangana. Ministers have directed officials to create awareness among poultry farmers about the problem of bird flu infecting chickens.
Chicken prices in Hyderabad have halved due to the bird flu effect. The price of a kg of chicken, which was between 280 and 320 till yesterday, has dropped to Rs. 150. Sales have fallen by half as chickens are dying due to disease and people are not going to buy chicken due to fear. 6 lakh kg of chicken is being sold daily in Hyderabad. Chicken traders, poultry farmers and their owners are worried as chickens are infected with bird flu and the government has also alerted the public.
Telangana Alert on Bird flu
Chickens are dying due to bird flu in AP. A few days ago, YSRCP leaders also posted on social media about this. They questioned the government’s lack of concern over the death of lakhs of chickens, and who will be responsible if they fall ill after eating chicken. Chickens have been diagnosed with bird flu in East Godavari district. AP officials were alerted after samples from poultry in Kanur, Peravali mandal tested positive for bird flu. A toll-free number 95429 08025 was set up in the Rajahmundry Collectorate. A high alert was issued while advising people to inform the authorities if chickens die. The Collector and officials are advising people that it is better not to eat chicken for a few days.
The Telangana government issued a warning to poultry farmers and blocked the entry of poultry from Andhra Pradesh following the confirmation of avian influenza in the neighbouring state. The move came after a bird flu outbreak was reported in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, where authorities declared a red zone around the affected area.
According to sources, around 24 check posts have been set up along Telangana’s Nalgonda district border, where officials are turning back vehicles carrying chickens from Andhra Pradesh. The Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Department stated that these measures aligned with central government guidelines to curb the spread of the virus.
RED ZONE IN EAST GODAVARI
The outbreak in Andhra Pradesh was detected at Ramakrishna Poultry Farm in Kanuru Agraharam village, East Godavari district, where samples tested positive for the H5N1 avian influenza virus. Authorities sealed the farm and deployed a special team to cull over 1,500 chickens.
A one-kilometre radius around the farm was declared a red zone, while a 10-kilometre radius was marked as a surveillance zone. The district administration banned the sale of chickens and eggs in this area to prevent further spread.
Medical camps have been set up to monitor the health of villagers, and officials have urged residents to report any symptoms such as fever, cough, or diarrhea. “We urge the public not to panic but to remain cautious and report any unusual bird or animal deaths in the area,” a district official stated.
TELANGANA ON HIGH ALERT
With poultry farming being a major industry in Telangana, officials stepped up surveillance and issued warnings to farmers to stay vigilant. District collectors and government departments were also advised to monitor suspicious deaths of chickens and other animals closely.
Meetings with poultry farmers and industry representatives were being conducted to raise awareness about precautionary measures against avian influenza. Meanwhile, a team of experts from the Animal Husbandry Department has been dispatched to East Godavari to oversee containment efforts.
Authorities urged the public and poultry industry stakeholders to cooperate with containment measures to prevent the spread of the virus into Telangana.
Symptoms of bird flu include:
- Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
- Fever.
- Fatigue.
- Cough.
- Muscle aches.
- Sore throat.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Diarrhea.