No confirmed cases of bird flu in humans in Puri, clarifies Odisha Minister

Amid rumours of a person from Puri infected by bird flu after detection of the virus in poultry farms, Odisha Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling on Thursday informed that no confirmed case of bird flu in human beings has been detected in Puri.

The Minister said that samples collected from a suspected human case of bird flu at Mangalpur area in Puri district has turned out to be negative for H5N1. The samples were sent to RMRC and Pune Virology Centre for testing.

“The concerned person has been kept in isolation. Health Department is fully alert to curb the spread of bird flu. Mass awareness programs are undertaken to make people aware about the outbreak of the disease. Under the circumstance, people should not be panicked over the situation,” said Mahaling.

Though bird-to-human transmission is rare, it can happen in case of persons who are in contact with live birds.

Earlier a day before, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallik had informed that  the poultry farmers affected by bird flu in Odisha will get compensation.

The Minister said that the department is planning to provide compensation of Rs 20 for one small chicken and Rs 70 for bigger ones.

As many as two blocks in Puri - Pipili and Sakhigopal have witnessed outbreak of bird flu. Samples from both the blocks were sent to Bhopal for testing and the reports have come as positive.

Around 30,000 chickens have been culled amid the bird flu scare in the State.