Bird flu has reared its head again in Kerala. Last week, authorities ordered the culling of at least 8,000 birds, including poultry and ducks, in the district of Kottayam.

Worldwide too, cases of bird flu have surged over the past few months. The US and UK witnessed their worst-ever outbreaks of bird flu in October-November this year. The zoonotic disease is spreading rapidly in France too. Poultry exports, including India’s, are beginning to take a hit.

Almost a week ago, two panchayats in Kerala’s Kottayam district – Arpookara and Thalayazham – reported a bird flu outbreak. Authorities have ordered the culling of around 8,000 ducks, hens and other domestic birds within a kilometre radius of the affected areas, reported India Today. The district administration also ordered a ban on the sale and import of chicken, duck, quail, and other poultry eggs and meat for three days from December 13 within 10 km of the epicentre of bird flu. The ban has now been lifted.