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Bihar is on alert with cases of bird flu being confirmed in Patna and Bhagalpur districts. Authorities have ordered the culling of chickens and ducks at vulnerable places in a bid to stop the spread.
Government-run hospitals have been directed to be on alert, take precautions and treat patients coming with complaints of fever, running nose and breathlessness after conducting their blood tests, said officials on March 10, 2025
Chickens were found dead on the premises of the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) in Patna on February 27, 2025. Their samples were sent for tests to Bhopal-based National Institute of High Security Animal Disease. The test results confirmed the birds had died from bird flu or H5N1, according to Patna Civil Surgeon Avinash Kumar Singh.
Culling of chickens was carried out on March 8 and 9 at two poultry farms close to the ICAR premises, after confirmation of bird flu was received.
Singh said in view of confirmation of bird flu, human sampling of staff or officials dealing with collecting samples of dead birds will be conducted on March 10. “Human sampling is a must to confirm if there is any infection among humans due to bird flu. Those involved in cleaning chicken excreta, feeding them and handling poultry are at risk.”
He told Down To Earth that he had released guidelines to all primary health centres and asked officials in charge to immediately inform epidemiologist Prashant Kumar Singh if there are any reports of unusual deaths of birds in their areas. “We have also appealed to people to inform their nearby hospital in case of deaths of birds.”
An official at ICAR said health department personnel have been distributing anti-viral tablets among poultry staff and officials engaged in culling, collecting samples of dead birds and survey works in neighbouring areas.
Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey said the health department is in alert mode following confirmation of bird flu in the state. “We are keeping a close watch on everything to minimise the possible outbreak of bird flu. All district civil surgeons have been directed to take necessary measures and initiate steps for awareness.”
Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan, the zoological garden in Patna, is on alert and precautionary measures have been taken to protect birds and animals, like spraying of insecticides near bird cages.
Besides Patna, bird flu has also been confirmed in Jehanabad district, about 50 km from Patna after a dozen crows were found dead near the police line and circuit house.
There have been reports of deaths of nearly a dozen crows in Munger district after which, a team of the animal husbandry department rushed to the site and collected samples for tests.
Bird flu has been confirmed in neighbouring Jharkhand as well and the culling of chickens and ducks has been started there to stop its spread.