Avian Influenza: Experts advise containing disease spread at the source | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: With fears of suspected transmission of avian influenza (H5N1) virus to a man in Puri district’s Pipili area being allayed now, experts have suggested containing the disease at source.
Though the transmission rate from infected birds to humans is very low, the mortality rate is a high 52% in avian influenza cases. India has recorded only one H5N1 death in 2021.
“The transmission of the H5N1 virus to humans is rare. It could be fatal for humans if the viral load is high. People who handle infected birds are at risk. There is no risk in eating properly cooked chicken,” said Debdutta Bhattacharya, a scientist at ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC), Bhubaneswar.
“Chances of transmission from infected birds are high when people handle birds without protective gear like masks and gloves,” he said.
Deepak Kumar Kar, a public health expert, said people should not get worried about the spread of bird flu at this stage.
“We do not know how much time it will take for transmission of avian influenza from one person to another. Previous data shows a very negligible rate of transmission from birds to humans,” he added.
He said the best thing is to contain the disease at the source.
“If we do not control the infection in birds, there is a chance that it may start spreading to humans. Genetic changes in the avian influenza virus can prove fatal for people. We need to identify suspected cases and isolate them to stop transmission,” he added.
A person infected by avian influenza (H5N1) virus will get symptoms like normal flu. “If a person engaged in an affected poultry farm gets flu-like symptoms, he/she should stay in isolation and go for testing immediately,” said Susanta Kumar Dash, a professor at Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT).
He said transmission of the H5N1 virus from one bird to another in a poultry farm is easy. “But transmission from birds to humans is difficult due to the presence of a genetic barrier. If we contain the transmission immediately by culling birds and sanitising the area, it will not create major problems,” he added.
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