Human Infection of Bird Flu Suspected in Puri Dist, 2 Samples Sent to RMRC for Test

Bhubaneswar: While culling of chickens continues over the threat of bird flu, two suspected human infections of the avian influenza have been detected at Mangalpur Community Health Centre (CHC), informed Health & Family Welfare Department on Tuesday.

The samples of the suspected cases have been sent to RMRC Bhubaneswar to confirm the possible bird-to-human transmission, which is rare as humans can only be infected if they are in contact with live birds.

According to the Public health director Nilakanta Mishra, the two suspected human cases cannot be said to be bird flu infected unless their samples sent to RMRC and Pune Virology Centre confirm it.

He advised the public not to panic as of now.

Chickens in two farms in Pipli and Satyabadi blocks of Puri district were recently found to be infected by the H5N1 virus. A mass culling of chickens is currently underway in the areas where chickens are suspected to be infected.