Shocking Bird Flu Outbreak: 622 Pet Cats Dead in Chhindwara, First Case in India
Chhindwara: Bird Flu Scare as Virus Found in Pet Cats for the First Time in India. Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, is on high alert as bird flu has been detected in pet cats for the first time in India. The virus is believed to have spread through contaminated chicken fed to the cats. Tests have confirmed that chickens from the same poultry shops supplying the food were also infected. So far, 622 cats have died due to the virus in the district.
Mutton Market Sealed, Poultry Farms Under Scrutiny
In response to the outbreak, authorities have completely sealed the city’s mutton market and initiated inspections across poultry and goat farms in the district. Samples taken from a poultry farm in Mohkhed area have tested positive for bird flu.
10-Kilometer Area Declared Infected
District Collector Shailendra Singh has declared a 10-kilometer radius around the affected poultry farm as an infected zone. Authorities began investigating after the unexplained deaths of several cats, leading to the discovery of bird flu virus in the deceased felines.
Bird Flu Alert Issued Across Chhindwara
Initially, chicken samples had not tested positive, but on Saturday, samples from a Mohkhed poultry farm confirmed bird flu, prompting an official bird flu alert across the district.
Strict Guidelines Issued for Infected Areas
Authorities are now destroying infected eggs and poultry from the farm where the virus was detected. The area has been officially declared contaminated, and special guidelines have been issued by the district administration.
Precautionary Measures and Testing Intensified
To prevent further spread, strict restrictions have been imposed. Samples from all poultry farms in the district are being collected and tested. Areas where samples test positive will be declared infected zones, and containment measures will be enforced to stop the virus from spreading further.
