Bird Flu Outbreak Reported in Pipili Town of Odisha

An outbreak of bird flu or avian influenza has been reported from Odisha, where the authorities have killed more than 11.700 chickens after detecting the H5N1 strain of avian influenza. 

In April 2024, bird flu was reported in the Alappuzha district of Kerala, leading to the mass culling of ducks.

The first case of an avian influenza virus A (H5N1) outbreak in India was reported in February 2006 in a poultry farm in Navapur tehsil in Nandurbar district of Maharashtra. 

Recent case of Bird Flu in Odisha 

The recent case of bird flu was reported from a poultry farm in Pipili town, located in the Puri district of Odisha.  After the report of the mass death of chickens in the poultry farm, the local authorities sent the infected chicken carcasses to the National Institute of High-Security Animal Disease, Bhopal, for testing, which confirmed the presence of the H5N1 virus in the bird carcasses. 

After confirmation from the Bhopal laboratory, the district authorities started culling the chickens in the poultry farm, nearby homes, and the village area.

What is Avian Influenza or Bird Flu?

Avian influenza, commonly called “bird flu,” is a viral infection that spreads in birds but can sometimes spread to humans. 

Avian influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Influenza A(H5N1) is the most common cause of bird flu in humans. However, recently, bird flu in humans has been found due to H7N7 and H7N9 strains of the influenza.

The first case of bird flu in humans was identified in 1997 in Hong Kong amongst poultry workers.

The first human case of avian Influenza A(H5N1) in India was reported from Haryana in June 2021. An 18-year-old boy died due to avian Influenza A(H5N1) infection.

Carrier of Virus 

Wild birds are the natural carriers of the virus, and from them, they spread to domestic poultry and other bird and animal species. 

Infected birds shed avian influenza viruses through their faeces, saliva and mucus. 

A person can get infected by the virus when the virus is inhaled by the person or through the person’s eyes, nose or mouth.

The disease may cause severe pneumonia in a person, leading to death.