Bird Flu Grips Rampur: 21-Day Poultry Ban Imposed After 15,000 Chickens Die

A severe outbreak of Avian Influenza (H5N1) has prompted the Rampur district administration to impose a 21-day ban on the sale and transport of poultry products, including eggs and chicken, following the deaths of over 15,000 chickens at a poultry farm in Sehor village, Bilaspur tehsil. The drastic measure aims to curb the spread of the highly contagious virus, confirmed through rigorous testing, officials announced on Tuesday.

District Magistrate Jogendra Singh convened an emergency meeting on Monday, ordering the immediate closure of all chicken shops and eateries serving poultry across Rampur. A complete ban on the movement of poultry and related products within and beyond the district has been enforced until further notice. To ensure compliance, control rooms have been established at the district and Bilaspur tehsil levels to monitor the situation closely. The administration has sealed a one-kilometer radius around the affected farm and designated a 10-kilometer surveillance zone to contain the outbreak.

The presence of the H5N1 virus was confirmed by the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) in Bareilly and the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL) in Bhopal. IVRI Director Triveni Dutt reported that tests conducted on five samples from Rampur on August 8 yielded positive results, with HSADL confirming the findings on August 11 after further testing.

Following the confirmation, the state Animal Husbandry Department issued directives for veterinary officers to conduct immediate sampling and follow strict protocols upon reports of bird deaths, with 20 samples collected monthly from various regions for IVRI testing. No positive cases have been reported in Bareilly, but its proximity to Rampur has heightened alertness.

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At the Central Avian Research Institute (CARI) in Izatnagar, Bareilly, Director Ashok Kumar Tiwari outlined enhanced biosecurity measures, including barring outsiders and vehicles, covering water sources to deter wild birds, and installing reflectors at farmhouses and broiler research areas. These steps aim to prevent further spread, as wild birds are known carriers of the virus.

The outbreak, part of 41 reported bird flu cases across 10 Indian states in 2025, poses a significant threat to the poultry industry and raises concerns about potential zoonotic transmission, though the global public health risk remains low. Health teams are screening locals for symptoms like fever or respiratory issues, and residents are urged to report sick or dead birds to the Animal Husbandry Department’s control room (7248343667). The economic impact on Rampur’s poultry sector is expected to be severe, with culling operations underway to eliminate remaining birds in the affected zone.

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