A mysterious disease has caused the sudden deaths of around 2,500 chickens in poultry farms in Konnur, Madanapuram mandal, Wanaparthy district, Telangana, over a span of just three days, raising concerns among farmers and authorities.
Confirming the outbreak, District Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Officer K Venkateshwar stated that the exact cause of the disease is still under investigation. Officials visited the affected poultry farms after reports of mass bird deaths, collecting samples to be sent for laboratory analysis.
The fatalities occurred in Premium Farm, an integrated poultry system with a capacity of 5,500 chickens, owned by Shivakehavulu. The deaths were recorded as follows: 117 chickens on February 16th, 300 on February 17th, and the remaining birds on February 18th. After noticing the large-scale deaths, farm authorities alerted the officials, who sent the samples for testing on February 19th.
While authorities have not confirmed the exact nature of the disease, the incident has raised concerns about the possibility of bird flu, especially after recent outbreaks in neighboring Andhra Pradesh. The Andhra Pradesh government recently intensified containment efforts after detecting bird flu in three districts. Approximately one lakh hens have been culled to prevent further spread.
Dr. Satya Kumari, Additional Director of Animal Husbandry, stated that the bird flu outbreak remains limited to five farms across three districts in Andhra Pradesh. Meanwhile, Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu reassured the public that strict containment measures have been implemented to control the spread of the infection.
Authorities in Telangana are closely monitoring the situation and awaiting test results to determine the cause of the poultry deaths. Farmers and poultry owners are urged to remain vigilant and report any unusual bird deaths to prevent further losses.
