Sun Mar 09 09:13:03 UTC 2025: ## Bird Flu Outbreak in Jharkhand: Hundreds of Birds Culled in Bokaro
**Bokaro, Jharkhand, March 9, 2025** – A new outbreak of bird flu, caused by the H5N1 strain of avian influenza, has been confirmed in Bokaro district, Jharkhand. This follows a similar outbreak in Ranchi last month which resulted in the culling of over 5,500 birds.
The current outbreak was discovered at a government poultry farm in Sector 12, where approximately 250 birds have perished. Following confirmation from the ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal on March 7th, authorities swiftly responded. On March 8th, 46 remaining birds were culled, along with the destruction of 506 eggs and 1,717 kg of poultry feed. The farm has been thoroughly sanitized.
A one-kilometer radius around the farm has been declared an affected zone, with culling of birds in that area underway. A 10-kilometer surveillance zone has also been established, prohibiting the sale and purchase of poultry within its boundaries. Public awareness campaigns are set to begin.
The first deaths at the Bokaro farm were reported on February 20th, with initial samples sent to labs in Ranchi and Kolkata before final confirmation in Bhopal. The rapid spread of the disease, with the majority of the farm’s 300 birds dying within 15 days, highlights the urgency of the containment efforts. Authorities are working to prevent further spread of the virus.
First Piper 