Nepal reports re-emergence of avian flu in birds

Following an eight-month hiatus, the virus was detected in a flock of around 24,000 laying hens in the country’s southeasternmost province, Koshi. The infection is thought to have been transmitted by either fomites, or wild birds that were previously seen near the farm.

Within a couple of days, three more outbreaks were identified and reported to WOAH. These also involved commercial layers in Koshi. In the most recent WOAH notification, the Nepali authorities logged a further two outbreaks — including one affecting broiler breeders. These bring the South Asian nation’s outbreak total to date to 11, with almost 95,000 poultry directly impacted.

All of these premises have been located in Koshi province, and in one of three districts that border the Indian state of Bihar. For the first time two and a half years, H5N1 HPAI has infected Nepal’s wild bird population. According to a separate notification to WOAH, 30 crows found dead near the capital city, Kathmandu earlier this month also tested positive for this virus variant.

Further HPAI infections in East Asian poultry

South Korea’s total HPAI outbreaks in poultry to date in 2026 has risen to 60, according to the agriculture ministry (as of March 22). This represents an increase of four over the previous nine days. Latest to be affected was a commercial flock of around 12,500 meat ducks in North Jeolla province. The birds tested positive for the H5N1 virus serotype at a regular surveillance inspection, the ministry reports.

A few days previously, the same virus was detected at another farm with meat ducks in South Jeolla. Two previous outbreaks involved flocks of laying hens comprising around 42,000 and 80,000 birds. Of the 60 H5N1-affected farms in South Korea this year, 39 had chickens — including 30 with laying hens. Seventeen kept ducks, three held quails, and one comprised wild geese.

Furthermore, more HPAI cases among the nation’s wild birds have been registered with WOAH. At a total of eight locations, various wild birds had recently tested positive for the H5N1 or H5N9 virus serotype.   To the same agency the South Korean authorities have recently declared last year’s HPAI outbreak series in poultry “resolved.”

According to this notification, there were 49 confirmed outbreaks in the country between October of 2024 and June of 2025. More than 2.5 million birds were impacted through mortality and/or preventative culling over that period. In Japan, poultry at two more farms have tested positive for H5N1 virus variant, reports the agriculture ministry.

Within the past week, the infection has been confirmed in a flock of around 460,000 laying hens on the northernmost main island of Hokkaido, and 9,000 ducks in Miyagi prefecture, which is in the northern part of the largest island, Honshu. These bring Japan’s total farm outbreaks since October of 2025 to 23. Meanwhile, WOAH has been notified by Taiwan’s authorities of a further four HPAI outbreaks linked to the same virus variant.

Between late February and early March, one flock of laying hens and three of native chickens were found to be affected. Three of these were detected on-farm, while one small group of the native chickens tested positive for the virus at a Taipei slaughterhouse. Since July of latest year, 20 H5N1 outbreaks have been confirmed in Taiwan, based on this source.

HPAI developments elsewhere in Asia

Furthe outbreaks have been detected among poultry flocks in the Philippines since the start of March. Latest update on the disease situation from the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Animal Industry (as of March 13) puts the number of farms with active H5N1 outbreaks at 15.

Compared with the situation at the end of February, the farm total has risen by six. These include more cases in the Cagayan Valley region, and the re-emergence of the virus in the Cordillera Administrative Region, while one outbreak in Central Luzon continues. All three of these regions are located on the island of Luzon.

In India’s southwestern state of Kerala, The Hindu reported earlier this month that almost 6,000 poultry were to be culled due to HPAI. The outbreak was confined to one ward in the district of Alappuzha. Officials called for any other mass mortalities of poultry to be reported to the authorities.

Around the same time, a second outbreak is recorded in Bihar in the northern part of eastern India by Hindustan Times. This involved a second poultry farm of a Bihar university. Almost 8,500 poultry are reported to have died, and 15,000 eggs have been destroyed, severely impacting research activities. Because of widespread HPAI outbreaks, the Indian government has proposed that all poultry farms undergo mandatory registration, reported Financial Express.

According to this source, confirmed H5N1 infections had been confirmed in 34 epicenters by mid-March. The disease hot-spots were located in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Telangana.

New human case recorded in Cambodia

In mid-March, the Cambodian health agency confirmed the country’s second infection of influenza A(H5N1) virus of avian origin in 2026. The patient, a 45-year-old woman, had shown no symptoms, according to the Centre for Health Protection in Hong Kong. Her infection was detected as a result of surveillance linked to HPAI in poultry in Banteay Meanchey province. The patient was isolated, treated, and discharged when the virus test was negative.

According to a recent notification to WOAH from the Cambodian veterinary agency, a small number of poultry and some dead wild birds tested positive for the H5N1 HPAI virus at two locations in the same province in January and early March. Both locations appear to be within around 50km of the border with Thailand.

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