Two suspected human cases of bird flu detected in Odisha, samples sent to RMRC for test

Amidst the mass culling of chickens in several parts of Odisha's Puri, two suspected human cases of bird flu have been detected at Mangalpur Community Health Centre (CHC), informed Health & Family Welfare Department on Tuesday.

Moreover, samples of the suspected cases have been sent to RMRC Bhubaneswar for tests. Only after the results, any confirmation can be shared, health officials said. Bird-to-human transmission is rare and it can happen in case of persons who are in contact with live birds, said Dr Pragyan Routray.

The Public health director Nilakanta Mishra said that two suspected cases with symptoms have been detected. However, it cannot be said that they are positive. Their samples have been sent to RMRC and Pune Virology Centre. There is no need to panic as of now. The health department will present necessary facts after RMRC report comes, said Mishra.

It is pertinent to mention here that H5N1 was recently detected in the chicken farms in two blocks (Pipilli and Satyabadi) of Puri district by the National Institute of High Security Animal Disease. Following this, a mass culling of chickens is currently underway in the infected pockets for the past couple of days.

Earlier in an interview with ANI, Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling said, "...Our department is fully prepared, with ASHA workers conducting door-to-door awareness campaigns and distributing Tamiflu medicine to those in need. N95 masks are also being distributed as part of the containment strategy."

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The Minister further said that the government is vigilant and is working in close coordination with animal husbandry departments; and, so far, over 25,000 birds have been culled as part of the containment measures.