Hyderabad, India – A widespread outbreak of the highly contagious H5N1 avian influenza in Andhra Pradesh has resulted in the deaths and culling of over 540,000 birds, marking a severe blow to the region’s poultry industry. The World Organisation for Animal Health recently rated the outbreak as “High Pathogenicity,” noting that it began spreading from an initial case detected in East Godavari’s coastal area to numerous farms and backyard units across multiple districts.
The first cases were identified in early January 2025 and have since created escalating challenges for local farmers, the economy, and disease control authorities. Despite the extensive spread, which has impacted both large-scale operations and small holders, there have thankfully been no reports of human infections thus far.
The spread began from a farm in the East Godavari where a significant number of birds were initially infected, and swiftly extended towards a backyard poultry unit in Kurnool, Rayalaseema, demonstrating the aggressive nature of the virus. Intricate testing confirmed the strain as H5N1 through real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction tests administered at the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal.
Noteworthy outbreaks in January include a devastating impact on a farm in Kanuru Agraharam, Peravali Mandal, where nearly the entire flock of 92,000 birds was either dead or culled by mid-January. Similarly, in Badampudi, Ungutur Mandal, a massive farm faced 350,000 infections leading to over 200,000 deaths. Smaller yet significant outbreaks have also been recorded in remote areas like NR Pet in Kurnool, affecting backyard poultry units.
By February 2025, cases persisted with several thousand more birds dead in areas including Deeplanagar Village, Krishnaraopalem, and the industrial area of Pithapuram in Kakinada. As the contagion spread, local authorities enforced stringent biosecurity measures including quarantines, movement restrictions, and the implementation of controlled culling zones.
The government’s response has been robust, deploying mass culling operations, supervised disposal of carcasses, and extensive disinfection efforts within and around affected zones. Surveillance and monitoring continue to intensify to stem further outbreaks. Dr. T Damodar Naidu, Director of Animal Husbandry, emphasized the coordination with India’s biosecurity regulations in managing the outbreak effectively. “We have been vigilant and proactive in implementing control measures which, so far, have prevented the spread to new areas and notably kept the infection away from humans,” noted Dr. Naidu.
Furthermore, economic repercussions are palpable with many local consumers in Andhra Pradesh and neighboring states like Tamil Nadu and Telangana shunning poultry products due to fears of infection, fueled by widespread misinformation. Dr. Naidu criticized some media reports for amplifying fears unnecessarily, which has exacerbated financial losses in the poultry sector.
Animal Husbandry officials continue to urge poultry farmers and the general public to report any suspicious cases and to abide by safety protocols. They also provide resources for those needing assistance, hoping to stabilize and eventually rejuvenate the poultry trade impacted by the outbreak.
Despite the containment efforts, the situation remains precarious, holding not just implications for domestic agriculture but also pointing to potential zoonotic risks that could have broader health implications. Authorities and farming communities remain on high alert, hoping to curtail any further spread of the deadly virus as they work toward recovery.