Andhra reports first human death from bird flu as toddler succumbs to H5N1

A two-year-old girl from Narasaraopet, Andhra Pradesh, has tragically become the state’s first human casualty of Avian Influenza (H5N1) after allegedly consuming raw chicken meat. The child passed away on March 16 at AIIMS Mangalagiri, where she was admitted on March 4 with severe fever, respiratory distress, and diarrhea.

Health officials confirmed that the child’s family members tested negative, but further nasal swab tests are being conducted at the Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) in Guntur to rule out transmission. The parents, who ate cooked chicken, remained unaffected.

Medical investigations revealed that the toddler’s nasal swabs tested positive for Influenza A, later identified as H5N1 at ICMR Delhi and NIV Pune. Her death comes just weeks after the Animal Husbandry Department declared Andhra Pradesh bird flu-free, citing no outbreaks in poultry farms.

Authorities are now intensifying surveillance of poultry farms across Guntur, Palnadu, and Prakasam districts to detect potential sources of infection. Officials reiterated that properly cooked poultry products are safe, as the virus does not survive beyond 60-70°C.

This alarming case underscores the serious risks of consuming raw meat, prompting renewed health advisories on safe food practices.

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