India, Jan. 6 -- India is once again confronting the threat of avian influenza after authorities confirmed a cluster of highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu outbreaks in the southern state of Kerala.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) said India reported 11 separate outbreaks on poultry farms recently, raising fresh concerns for the country's poultry sector and public health officials.

The cases were detected across several districts in Kerala, a state with a significant concentration of duck and poultry farming. Officials said thousands of birds either died from the disease or were culled as part of emergency containment measures aimed at preventing further spread. The resurgence comes months after India last reported major out...