Protective health workers slaughter ducks in Karuvatta, Kerala, on January 6.
Photographer: Arunchandra Bose / AFP / Getty Images
Photographer: Arunchandra Bose / AFP / Getty Images
Four states in India have reported outbreaks of bird flu, with some districts in Kerala sacrificing birds to prevent the spread of the disease, according to an official statement.
Some states, including Rajasthan, Kerala and Himachal Pradesh, have recently witnessed unusual deaths of poultry, crows and migratory birds, the Department of Livestock and Dairy said in a statement on Thursday. The federal government has asked local authorities to increase surveillance around water bodies, live bird markets, zoos and poultry farms, he said.
Concerns about the spread of the disease are likely to affect poultry companies across the country in the next two to three quarters, according to a note from ICICI Securities Ltd. Consumption of poultry products, such as chicken and eggs, may decline, while demand for feed may also be affected, he said.
Actions of Venky’s India Ltd., which reported about half of its revenue from poultry sales in 2019-20, has dropped more than 8% and is set for its worst week since April 2020, while Godrej Agrovet Ltd. fell 1.4%.