Govt Mandates Registration of All Poultry Farms Amid Rising H5N1 Bird Flu Cases Across India

In response to the growing spread of H5N1 avian influenza, the Indian government has made it mandatory for all poultry farms across the country to register with their respective state animal husbandry departments within one month. This directive comes as confirmed H5N1 outbreaks have been reported in 34 epicentres across eight states—Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand.

The announcement was made by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) under the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. The move is part of a broader three-pronged strategy aimed at tackling the ongoing bird flu crisis, which includes surveillance, containment, and vaccination.

A high-level meeting was recently held at Krishi Bhavan in New Delhi, chaired by DAHD Secretary Alka Upadhyaya. Key stakeholders, including representatives from the poultry industry and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), discussed immediate disease control and prevention strategies.

Although H5N1 primarily affects birds, fewer than ten cases of mammalian transmission have been reported in India, according to official data.

To strengthen containment efforts, the DAHD has approved the commercial use of the H9N2 vaccine—developed by ICAR-NIHSAD, Bhopal. This low-pathogenic avian influenza vaccine will undergo a national study to evaluate its effectiveness. While poultry industry leaders have urged the government to expand the vaccination program to prevent large-scale economic losses, experts have pointed out that existing Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) vaccines only reduce virus shedding and do not provide sterile immunity.

The Centre’s new directive is expected to enhance disease tracking and response capabilities across states, ensuring better management of future outbreaks.