Chennai, Dec 25 (NationPress) Following the discovery of avian influenza (H1N1) in neighboring Kerala, the Tamil Nadu Public Health Department has implemented enhanced surveillance and preventive measures in districts along the shared border to avert any potential spread of the virus. This measure comes after alarming reports from Kerala’s Alappuzha and Kottayam districts, where a significant number of poultry birds on local farms have died unexpectedly in recent days. Blood samples collected from these birds have been forwarded to a testing facility in Pune, confirming the presence of H1N1 avian influenza.

In response to this confirmation, the Kerala government has escalated its disease-control and containment measures in the affected regions.

Tamil Nadu authorities have acted promptly to bolster monitoring efforts along the inter-state border. The Public Health Department has directed district administrations to set up check-posts at crucial entry points from Kerala and ensure that incoming vehicles are subjected to thorough inspections. Vehicles arriving from Kerala will undergo disinfection as part of biosecurity measures aimed at preventing the entry of the virus into Tamil Nadu.

Special surveillance efforts have been mandated in Coimbatore, Nilgiris, Theni, Kanyakumari, and Tenkasi districts, all of which share borders with Kerala.

Health teams are tasked with meticulously monitoring vehicles, including those transporting poultry, livestock, and agricultural products, entering Tamil Nadu from the neighboring state.

Moreover, the Public Health Department has issued specific advisories considering the ongoing Sabarimala pilgrimage season. Devotees returning from Kerala have been urged to remain vigilant and seek immediate medical attention if they exhibit symptoms such as fever, respiratory distress, or other flu-like signs.

In districts with significant poultry farming, like Namakkal, officials have been instructed to strengthen surveillance in collaboration with the Animal Husbandry Department.

Veterinarians are required to closely monitor the health of poultry, promptly report unusual deaths, and ensure strict compliance with farm-level biosecurity protocols.

Health authorities have reassured the public that there is currently no cause for alarm but emphasized the necessity for strict preventive measures and early detection strategies.

Officials are continuously monitoring the situation, and further actions will be implemented based on insights from field-level surveillance and inter-departmental collaboration.

The state government has reiterated its dedication to safeguarding public health and the poultry industry, affirming that all necessary steps are being taken to prevent the spread of avian influenza into Tamil Nadu.