‘Bird Flu Man Of India’ Harekrusna Pradhan Passes Away

Bhubaneswar: ‘Bird flu man of India’ Dr Harekrushna Pradhan passed away at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar on Friday.

He was the founder-director of the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL) in Bhopal. It is the only laboratory in the country with the capability of conducting diagnostic tests on bird flu virus.

Dr Pradhan had an immense contribution towards the detection and isolation of bird flu virus. He is probably the only scientist in the field of veterinary science whose research papers have been included in the textbooks referred worldwide.

He has published 103 scientific papers of which 18 are in foreign journals. He has delivered several lectures across India.

According to media reports, he had tested positive for COVID-19.

Hailing from a teacher’s family in Khajuri Pada of Kandhamal district, Dr Pradhan completed his studies from primary school till PhD in veterinary pathology with support of scholarships.