Central Team To Visit Odisha Tomorrow To Review Bird Flu Situation

Bhubaneswar: A central team is set to visit Odisha tomorrow to assess the bird flu outbreak affecting the state. The team will focus on Pipili in Puri district, a major hotspot, and consult with health officials, according to Odisha Health Director Dr Bijay Kumar Mohapatra.

Dr Mohapatra stated that the central team has been briefed on the state’s response to the bird flu cases. Samples from affected poultry farms in Kendrapara district, where multiple chickens have died, have been sent for testing.

In response to the outbreak, all districts are on high alert, and the health department has issued advisories for poultry farm workers to exercise caution.

The government has already culled thousands of chickens in Pipili and plans to continue this measure to control the outbreak. Recent reports of sudden chicken deaths in Narasinghpur village, Kendrapara, have intensified concerns about the flu’s spread.

Dr Mohapatra assured that comprehensive measures are in place to combat the avian influenza. Efforts are being coordinated with various stakeholders to manage the situation and medical colleges’ community medicine departments are monitoring potential human transmission risks.