Eluru Reports First Bird Flu Case in a Human; Health Officials on Alert

Authorities in Andhra Pradesh have confirmed a case of bird flu in a human in Eluru district. According to the state’s health department, the infected individual resides near a poultry farm in the Unguturu Mandal area. Following the confirmation, district officials have taken precautionary measures, including setting up a special medical camp to monitor individuals with bird flu symptoms. Health teams are collecting samples and sending them for laboratory testing. Officials stated that this is the first reported human case of bird flu in Andhra Pradesh.

The outbreak has been particularly severe in the twin Godavari districts and the erstwhile Krishna district. In Kanuru, bird flu has already been detected in poultry, and officials report that over five million chickens have died due to the virus in the Godavari districts alone. In light of the outbreak, health officials have advised people to avoid consuming chicken for the time being. The warnings from authorities, along with widespread discussions on social media, have led to a decline in chicken sales, causing poultry prices to drop across the Telugu-speaking states.