After Chilika, crow deaths trigger possible bird flu scare in Odisha’s Paradip

Anxiety mounts amidst reports of mysterious crow deaths at Badapadia locality of Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district. The sudden demise of multiple crows has stirred speculation among residents regarding a potential bird flu outbreak, sources said on Friday.

These deaths were noticed following recent bird flu cases confirmed in Chilika Lake region. Besides, some locals have noted instances of lethargy among several crows.

Also Read: Crow carcasses trigger bird flu scare after poultry deaths in Odisha’s Puri district

Despite the local speculations, veterinary experts have attributed the deaths to the sudden and sharp drop in temperature rather than avian influenza.

Nevertheless, samples from the affected crows in Paradip have been dispatched for testing as a precautionary measure. Local administration is vigilant, aiming to protect the health of both the birds and the community.

Worth mentioning, just a day after hundreds of chickens were found dead in poultry farms in some villages under Krushnaprasad block in Puri district, carcasses of crows were found on January 7, causing fear among residents.

The residents woke up to the shocking sight of hundreds of crows lying dead in the nearby Siala forest. These occurrences, witnessed in the earlier few days, unsettled the residents.

Must Read: Bird flu scare: Over 20,000 chickens to be culled in Odisha’s Pipili

In September 2024, Pipili and Delang blocks in Puri district were hotspots for bird flu, forcing the district administration to impose a three-month ban on poultry farming. The ban was also imposed in the Nimapara and Satyabadi areas. No poultry farming was allowed within a kilometre radius of the infected zones.

After Puri, the infection also spread to Kendrapara district. Following the detection of the H5N1 avian influenza strain, the local administration in the affected areas undertook a massive culling operation.