Two-yr-old Andhra girl dies of H5N1, India’s first case since 2021

India has reported its first H5N1 bird flu death since 2021. A two-year-old girl from Narasaraopet, Andhra Pradesh, died while receiving treatment at AIIMS Mangalagiri. Authorities suspect she may have contracted the virus after consuming raw chicken.

The child was admitted to a local hospital on February 28 with fever and cold symptoms. As her condition worsened, she was transferred to AIIMS Mangalagiri on March 4. Doctors diagnosed her with leptospirosis and later confirmed an Influenza A infection. A sample sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune, tested positive for H5N1. Despite medical treatment, she died on March 15.

AIIMS Mangalagiri stated that the case appears to be an isolated incident, with no signs of a wider outbreak. The hospital urged the public to stay vigilant and follow preventive measures.

Officials conducted surveillance in poultry farms across Guntur, Palnadu, and Prakasam districts. No traces of the virus were found. The girl’s parents, who consumed cooked meat, showed no symptoms of infection.

T. Damodar Naidu, director of animal husbandry in Andhra Pradesh, said there were isolated bird flu outbreaks in February, but authorities quickly contained them. He advised people to eat only well-cooked poultry and eggs. Chicken should be cooked to at least 70 degrees Celsius, and eggs should not be eaten raw.

India has reported four human cases of bird flu in the past five years. These include one case in Maharashtra (2019), one in Haryana (2021), and two in West Bengal (2024). The last confirmed H5N1 death in India occurred in Haryana in 2021.

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that H5N1 has spread to 108 countries and infected over 500 animal species, including 70 mammalian species. The virus has a mortality rate of about 50% in humans. Since March 2024, at least 70 people in the United States have been infected.

Symptoms of bird flu in humans include fever, headache, cough, sore throat, conjunctivitis, and difficulty breathing. Health experts stress the importance of cooking poultry properly and avoiding contact with sick birds to prevent infections.

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