Vijayawada: A large-scale poultry crisis has emerged in Andhra Pradesh, as lakhs of broiler chickens continue to die across the state due to bird flu.
While poultry farmers report significant losses, the animal husbandry department is claiming that only a small number of birds have been affected. The contradictory statements from officials and experts have left the public in a state of confusion regarding the safety of consuming poultry products.
For over a month, poultry farms in East and West Godavari districts, along with Eluru district, have been witnessing mass chicken deaths. Laboratory tests conducted in Pune confirmed the presence of bird flu, prompting authorities to declare several areas as red zones. Sanitation and containment measures have been implemented within a 10-kilometer radius of the affected zones to curb the spread of the virus.
However, the outbreak has now reached NTR district, particularly in A Konduru and Gampalagudem mandals near the Telangana border. Hundreds of chickens are reportedly dying in local farms. Initially, poultry farmers managed disposal efforts independently, but now, animal husbandry officials have deployed special teams to bury the infected birds systematically.
Adding to public anxiety, some individuals investigating the poultry deaths suspect a link to bat-borne diseases, fueling fears of transmission to humans. Minister Kinjarapu Attchannaidu has urged the public to remain calm, asserting that only a minimal number of chickens have died and dismissed exaggerated claims circulating on social media.
Meanwhile, health experts are advising caution, recommending temporary avoidance of poultry consumption amid concerns of botulism. Several panchayat officials in the combined Godavari district have urged residents to refrain from eating chicken and eggs for the time being.
“In our village alone, over a thousand chickens died in just three days, yet authorities claim there is no reason for concern. The govt should issue a clear statewide directive,” said M Anusha, a resident of NTR district.
However physicians said that eating properly cooked chicken doesn’t leave any chance of contracting bird flu. “Bird flu virus cannot survive in high temperatures. We cook chicken in temperature more than 100 degrees centigrade. There is no chance of contracting bird flu by consuming the chicken cooked at such a high temperature,” said Dr. Vattipalli Bhagyaraj, a general physician.
