Health authorities established a public advisory because recent crow deaths throughout Chennai confirmed an H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in the city.

Bird sample testing from Adyar area confirmed presence of highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu virus. The officials reported that the high number of dead crows indicates active virus transmission among local wild bird populations.

The authorities mandated all dead crow and poultry carcasses must be disposed of through biosecurity procedures which permit only incineration and deep burial methods. The public has been warned not to touch or handle dead birds under any circumstances and urged to immediately report new sightings to local authorities.

The outbreak confirmation led the Union Ministry of Animal Husbandry and Dairying to request immediate field study operations from the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary so they could stop further disease transmission. The ministry required a “One Health” strategy which unifies all three sectors of animal health human health and wildlife defense.

The ministry reported that Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza detection presents fast disease spread danger to both animals and humans. The ministry requires immediate action because animal health and human health need protection.

H5N1 represents a highly infectious influenza A virus that primarily infects birds with poultry and wild birds showing high rates of illness and death. Human infections occur through direct contact with infected birds or contaminated environments even though such cases remain rare.

The authorities established strict operating procedures which include monitoring crow and wild bird and poultry deaths and conducting public awareness programs and forest and municipal officials must report their findings. Field post-mortems have been discouraged, with carcasses to be sent to designated regional disease diagnostic laboratories when required.

The workers must follow multiple biosecurity protocols which include restricted farm access and protected wild bird handling and worker restrictions and disinfectant footbaths and equipment sanitizing and handwashing protocols. The public has been advised to properly dispose of kitchen and slaughter waste because improper disposal attracts wild birds.

Officials announced they will continue their monitoring activities and base their upcoming actions on the results of their surveillance work.