Kerala faces a serious threat to its poultry sector as the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus has been confirmed in Alappuzha and Kottayam districts. Tests at the National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal, verified the infection. The disease has been detected in eight wards across panchayats in Alappuzha, including Nedumudi, Cheruthana, Karuvatta, and others, affecting chickens and ducks. In Kottayam, four villages—Kuruppanthara, Manjoor, Kallupurakkal, and Velur—have reported infections in quails and chickens. The authorities will hold an emergency meeting to start culling all domestic birds within a 1-km radius around the infected sites. This includes ducks, chickens, and quail. They will follow the Central government's revised guidelines from 2021 for preventive measures. A ban on the movement of all poultry birds will be in place within a 10-km radius of the affected areas. Monitoring will continue in nearby local bodies to keep the disease under control. Unlike modern indoor poultry farming, many duck farmers in Kuttanad still rear birds outdoors, which increases their risk of catching diseases like avian influenza.