Nizamabad: Poultry farmers in Nizamabad district are facing a crisis after hundreds of chickens died from suspected viral infections over the last few days. The deaths occurred in farms located in Nizamabad, Bodhan, and Armoor divisions, prompting officials to dispatch samples to a Hyderabad laboratory to determine the exact cause.
In January, a bird flu outbreak was reported in Nanded district of Maharashtra, leading to the culling of hundreds of chickens and prompting a high alert. Bodhan division, which borders Nanded, has seen particularly concerning mortality rates in Kotagiri mandal. Veterinarians from the Animal Husbandry department collected samples from affected farms and forwarded them to the Veterinary Biological Research Unit in Hyderabad for further analysis.
Worried poultry farmers are now taking preventive measures to control the spread of the suspected virus, as local residents report that the disease — believed to be ‘Kokkera’—is rapidly affecting nearby farms. At least 11 poultry farms in Pothangal, Navipet, Kammarpally, Bheemgal, and Velpur mandals have witnessed sudden deaths among their flocks.
In the wake of the outbreak, chicken sales in both wholesale and retail markets have plunged, with consumers wary of purchasing chicken products. Restaurants and eateries have also seen a drop in demand for chicken dishes over the past few days. Veterinary officials are awaiting test results from Hyderabad to confirm whether bird flu or another pathogen is responsible for the widespread deaths.
