Odisha issues chicken consumption warning after bird flu outbreak

Bhubaneswar, Aug 26: The Odisha government issued a precautionary warning on Monday, advising against the consumption of chicken for the next few days. This measure follows the detection of the H5N1 avian influenza strain in the Pipili area of Puri district, leading to the culling of over 5,000 chickens. Director of Health Services Dr. Bijay Kumar Mohapatra assured the public that there is no cause for panic, as appropriate steps are being taken to manage the situation.

Dr. Mohapatra noted that fever is the primary symptom of bird flu and that surveillance is being heightened across all districts. “We are isolating cases with a history of exposure and conducting nasopharyngeal swab tests. We also have a sufficient stock of medicines,” he added.

A rapid response team has been deployed to the affected areas, and containment measures are in place to curb the spread of the virus. The Community Medicine Department is overseeing the monitoring process, emphasizing the importance of avoiding contact with infected poultry.

The outbreak in Pipili, triggered by the recent death of 1,800 birds at a local poultry farm, has led to the culling of 300 chickens on Saturday and an additional 4,700 on Sunday. The total number of birds scheduled for culling in the area is 20,000, according to Additional Director of Disease Control Jagannath Nanda.