In response to the recent bird flu alert issued in Muradabad after the death of animals at the Kanpur Zoo, Uttarakhand’s Animal Husbandry Department has increased surveillance and issued an advisory across Dehradun district. While no cases of bird flu have been reported in the region so far, authorities are not taking any chances.
Animal health officials have been instructed to conduct blood sampling if avian influenza is suspected and to send samples to the Rishikesh laboratory for testing. The department is keeping a close watch on around 40 poultry farms operating in the Doon region, each housing between 3,000 to 5,000 birds.
Given the proximity of districts such as Bijnor, Moradabad, Saharanpur, and Muzaffarnagar—where poultry trade is active—Dehradun is considered vulnerable. As a precaution, 30 major veterinary hospitals and about 50 smaller dispensaries have been issued advisories.
Large poultry farms in areas like Doiwala, Raipur, Sahaspur, and Vikasnagar are under special observation. Additionally, Chief Veterinary Officer Vidyasagar Kapri confirmed that while the district remains bird flu-free, all necessary preventive measures are being implemented.
He further stated that insecticide spraying and hygiene maintenance have been mandated at poultry farms and cow shelters to minimize risk. “Our department is on full alert, and all doctors have been instructed to act immediately in case of any suspicious symptoms,” Kapri added.
These proactive steps aim to prevent the spread of the virus and ensure the safety of livestock and public health in the region.
