No traces of bird flu in latest samples: Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh has declared there were no traces of birdflu in the areas that were recently hit by the infection in some parts of the State.

“We have sent poultry samples from the areas adversely impacted by bird flu and sent them to the Bhopal-based National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD). We have taken the samples from the Palnadu district too,” Andhra Pradesh Animal Husbandry Minister K Atchannaidu said in Amaravati on Saturday.“

“We received communication from the institute that there were no traces of the infection in the samples sent by us,” he said.

Since there were no traces of the infection, the Government asked to consume eggs and poultry without any hesitation, Animal Husbandry Director T Damodar Naidu said in a statement.

After a virulent attack of avian influenza (H5N1), commonly known as bird flu, in February in districts like East and West Godavari and Krishna districts, the State Government culled several lakhs of birds and marked the areas as containment and surveillance zones, restricting poultry movement to prevent further spread.

This has rattled the poultry business in the State with people staying away from buying poultry meat and eggs. A sharp fall in prices hit the revenues of poultry firms.

A two-year-old girl succumbed to the infection early last month in Narsaraopet after reportedly consuming raw chicken, triggering concerns among people.
(eom)

Published on April 19, 2025