Bird Flu In Odisha: No Need To Panic, Avoid Consuming Chicken: Health Director

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Monday warned against consuming chicken for the next few days as a precautionary measure.

This came a day after more than 5,000 chickens were culled after the H5N1 strain of avian influenza or bird flu was detected in the Pipili area of Puri district. “There is no reason to panic. Effective steps are being taken as was the case in the past by different departments. Districts across the state have been alerted and advised to take necessary precautions,” Director of Health Services Dr Bijay Kumar Mohapatra told the media.

He explained that fever is the first symptom of bird flu infection, and surveillance is being intensified across all districts. “We will isolate such cases with history and conduct nasopharyngeal swab test. We also have enough stock of medicines,” he said.

Mohapatrea further said that a rapid response team has been dispatched to the affected area. “Containment measures are being enforced in the affected regions as per the protocol to prevent the spread of the virus,” he said, while emphasising the importance of immediate culling and disposing of the infected poultry.

Stating that overall monitoring is being done by Community Medicine Department of the medical college, he cautioned against human contact with infected poultry to minimise the risk of transmission.

Pipili became the epicentre of the outbreak after the recent death of 1,800 birds at a local poultry farm. While 300 chickens were culled on Saturday and another 4,700 on Sunday, said additional director of disease control said Jagannath Nanda.

A total of 20,000 birds will be culled in Pipili, he added.

Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Joint Director Manoj Patnaik said that all birds within the 1 km radius of the poultry will be culled and the farm will not be allowed to stock chicken for another five months. The farmers will be provided Rs 20 for a small chicken and Rs 60 for bigger ones as compensation as per the guidelines, he said.