A bird flu outbreak has been reported in Kerala’s Alappuzha. As per reports, there have been two cases of bird flu in ducks in different areas in Alappuzha. This was confirmed after the samples of the ducks showing symptoms were sent to a lab in Bhopal for testing. As per the district administration, these samples confirmed cases of avian influenza (H5N1).
Bird Flu Reported In Ducks In Kerala’s Alappuzha
There have been two cases of bird flu reported in Alappuzha, Kerala. According to reports, the bird flu cases were confirmed in ducks reared in an area of Ward 1 of Edathua Grama Panchayat and second in Ward 3 of Cheruthana Grama Panchayat.
After some ducks in the area showed symptoms of bird flu, their samples were sent for testing to a lab in Bhopal. The district administration confirmed cases of avian influenza (H5N1) in these ducks. For now, the Alappuzha District Collector has initiated the process of killing and culling domestic birds within a radius of one kilometre from the epicentre of these cases.
A Rapid Action Force will be formed and related preparations will be completed by the Animal Welfare Department in these cases. Furthermore, the district administration reassured that there is no need to panic as there is no possibility of the disease-transmitting to humans.
Follow These Precautions To Stay Safe
While the authorities have reassured that there is little chance of human infection, there have been incidents of bird flu viruses reported in people who interact with poultry or wild birds. This has resulted in illness from mild cases with no symptoms to fatal cases of severe diseases. So, we suggest following some precautions to stay safe from bird flu. Especially after experts have predicted bird flu to be “100 times worse than the Covid pandemic” recently.
- Wear gloves while cleaning and preparing poultry products.
- Avoid contact with sick or dead birds and even their droppings. Wear proper protective equipment if contact is unavoidable.
- Do not consume partially cooked, uncooked, or raw poultry products.
- Make sure to cook all poultry products thoroughly, preferably to a temperature of 74°C. This could help kill any potential virus.
- Use hot and soapy water to wash the cutting boards and utensils that come into contact with raw poultry.
- Wash hands frequently and maintain good hygiene at all times.
We hope this information was helpful to you and you adhere to it to stay safe and healthy.
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva
For more such snackable content, interesting discoveries and the latest updates on food, travel and experiences in your city, download the Curly Tales App. Download HERE.