Karnataka has reported its first case of avian influenza (H5N1) in 2026 after the virus was detected at a poultry farm in Muthur village near Hesaraghatta on the outskirts of Bengaluru. The outbreak has prompted immediate containment measures, including large-scale culling and the establishment of surveillance zones around the affected area.

Officials confirmed that the infection was first detected on April 14 during preliminary testing of chickens at the farm. Following confirmation of the H5N1 virus, authorities moved quickly to prevent further spread, activating emergency response protocols across veterinary and health departments.

As part of containment action, 7,444 chickens were culled and buried in a designated pit on April 16. In addition, 14,788 eggs and 2,250 kilograms of poultry feed were also destroyed and disposed of in accordance with biosecurity guidelines. The burial site has been secured and declared a restricted area for one year to prevent any risk of contamination.

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Health and veterinary teams, along with district administration officials, inspected the site and implemented strict biosecurity measures. Authorities have placed 10 poultry workers under quarantine and are providing them with preventive medication, including Oseltamivir, under medical supervision. Surveillance has also been intensified in surrounding villages.

The Health Department has declared Mathkuru village an “Infected Zone” within a 0–3 km radius of the outbreak site, while a wider 3–10 km area—including PHC Hesaraghatta and Sonnenahalli—has been designated as a “Surveillance Zone.” Officials said two villages with a combined population of 3,422 fall within the infected zone, while 17 villages housing over 22,000 people are under active monitoring.

Authorities have deployed Rapid Response Teams (RRTs), Primary Health Centre staff, and ASHA workers to conduct daily house-to-house fever surveillance. Private hospitals in the region have been instructed to promptly report cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) on the national health portal. Officials have also ensured adequate stocks of PPE kits, masks, antiviral drugs, and testing supplies.

Preliminary observations suggest that the outbreak may be linked to the nearby Hesaraghatta lake, with possible transmission through migratory or wild birds. Investigations are ongoing as authorities work to contain the spread and prevent further cases in the region.

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