Mass poultry deaths spark bird flu fears in Jagatsinghpur

Fresh poultry deaths in Jagatsinghpur district have triggered concerns over a possible bird flu outbreak. On Thursday, more than 300 chickens died suddenly at the farm of Nihar Ranjan Pati in Nimapada village under Saanpura panchayat.

The farm owner immediately informed the district animal husbandry department about the unusual deaths. Acting on instructions from the Chief District Veterinary Officer (CDVO), a team visited the spot, collected swab and blood samples from the carcasses, and dispatched them for laboratory testing to determine the cause.

In the meantime, the dead birds were buried in pits as a precautionary measure. While the exact cause of death is yet to be confirmed, fears of bird flu have spread among locals. 

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“Nearly 300 of my birds died, and the company had alerted me of the spread of a possible bacteria or virus among birds. But when such a large number of poultry died, I suspected it to be bird flu, and based on that, I alerted the concerned authorities. They later arrived and collected swab samples,” Pati said.

Veterinary Officials Step In

Confirming the response measures, Jagatsinghpur CDVO Dr Ajay Sahu said, “Our team collected swab samples and other specimens, sent them to investigate whether it is indeed bird flu. The rest of the dead birds were buried in our presence, and they were advised to disinfect the entire area.”

Fear Spreads Among Poultry Farmers

Reports indicate rising anxiety among nearby poultry farmers, who fear the disease could spread and trigger mass culling or further poultry deaths in the region. As a precaution, the local administration has advised farm owners to disinfect their premises and stay vigilant.

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Official confirmation is still awaited, with samples sent to Bhopal for testing. Until the results arrive, poultry farmers in Jagatsinghpur remain on edge over the possibility of a bird flu outbreak.