Recent Surge In Bird Flu Outbreaks In India: Symptoms, Prevention, And Transmission

Bird flu (avian influenza) outbreaks have surged across India in 2025, with 41 outbreaks reported in 10 states including Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand. Bird flu is caused by influenza A viruses such as H5N1, H5N8, and H7N9, which primarily infect birds but can also infect humans through close contact with infected poultry or contaminated environments.

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Symptoms:

Human symptoms of bird flu often resemble severe influenza and may range from mild to life-threatening. Common symptoms include:

1.    High fever (above 38°C)

2.    Cough and sore throat

3.    Muscle aches and extreme fatigue

4.    Difficulty breathing, pneumonia, or respiratory distress

5.    Headache and loss of appetite

6.    Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain

7.    Eye infections (conjunctivitis)

8.    In severe cases: acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multi-organ failure, and bleeding (nose, gums).

How it spreads:

1.    Direct contact with live or dead infected birds, feathers, droppings, or secretions.

2.    Handling or preparing infected poultry for cooking.

3.    Exposure in live bird markets or contaminated environments.

4.    Touching virus-contaminated surfaces (such as equipment, cages, or feed).

5.    Consuming undercooked poultry or eggs from infected birds.

Prevention:

1.    Avoid direct contact with sick or dead birds, and do not handle such birds without protective gear.

2.    Thoroughly cook poultry and eggs (to at least 75°C); cooking destroys the virus.

3.    Practice good hand hygiene, especially after handling raw poultry.

4.    Report unusual bird deaths to authorities quickly.

5.    Implement strict farm biosecurity and disinfection protocols, vaccinate poultry where advised, and avoid live bird markets in outbreak areas.

6.    For poultry industry workers, wear protective clothing and avoid touching face or eyes when around birds.

The risk of human-to-human transmission remains low but could increase if the virus mutates. Public health surveillance and timely containment are essential to limit the impact of outbreaks and reduce the chance of future pandemics.

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