H5N1 Confirmed at Poultry Farm in Cuddalore

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) was confirmed on 13 November 2026 in a chicken carcass sample from a poultry farm at Kattiyankuppam, in Kurinjipadi taluk, Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu. The National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal, tested the sample, collected on 5 November.

Outbreak and containment measures

Sudden bird deaths were first reported on 30 October at a farm in Thamanampatti village, in Thiyagavalli panchayat. By 13 November, 35,647 bird deaths had been recorded in the affected belt. The Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Department reported that 15 farms were affected; birds at 10 had already died, while culling was planned at the remaining five. Nine Rapid Response Teams were deployed, and 1,550 birds had been culled. The operation targets all birds at the epicentre farm and within a one-kilometre radius, under Government of India guidelines issued in 2021.

Culled birds are being deep-buried in designated pits. Authorities have restricted bird movement, increased farm surveillance, and disinfected premises using VIRKON-S. Poultry restocking is prohibited in the affected area for three months. Separate reports also cited 50,000 chickens culled in Kullanchavadi following positive tests.

Earlier in 2026, H5N1 was reported among crows in Chennai and confirmed at Vandalur Zoo on 2 October. On 4 November, Minister S. Kamali denied reports of bird flu in Namakkal and said Tamil Nadu had no major veterinary disease outbreak.

Important Facts for Exams

• H5N1 designation: The H5N1 designation specifies type 5 haemagglutinin and type 1 neuraminidase, the two antigenic proteins used to define influenza A subtypes.
• Pathogenicity classification: HPAI and LPAI classifications reflect disease severity in domestic chickens; they do not predict severity in other species.
• Segment reassortment: When a host carries two influenza strains, the segmented genome can enable genetic reassortment, potentially producing viruses with new characteristics.