Bird Flu Outbreak In Madhya Pradesh: Avian Influenza Virus Found in Cats, 622 Deaths, Is Chicken the Source of Spread?

Bird Flu Outbreak In Madhya Pradesh: Perhaps for the first time in the country, cats have been found infected with the deadly H5N1 bird flu (avian influenza) virus in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh.

Bird Flu Outbreak In Madhya Pradesh: In a worrisome development, an unprecedented outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 has been detected in the Chhindwara district, Madhya Pradesh, India. The virus spread marks the first documented instance of the bird flu virus infecting domestic cats in the country. The development has raised significant concerns about interspecies transmission and public health implications.

The owners of three to four cats that tested positive for H5NI in Madhya Pradesh have not been afflicted with the ailment, officials told the media.

In the report, the officials mentioned that the sudden and unexpected outbreak was first identified when three domestic cats exhibited severe symptoms, including high fever (above 104c), loss of appetite, and lethargy.

"Despite medical intervention, all three cats succumbed to the illness within one to three days after sample collection. Laboratory analyses conducted by scientists from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (ICAR-NIHSAD) and the Union government's animal husbandry department have found that the cause of their death is directly linked to the highly lethal H5N1 virus. Genetic sequencing revealed that the virus belonged to the 2.3.2.1a lineage, a variant previously responsible for outbreaks in poultry across India," officials quoted as saying.

Nevertheless, the worrisome mutation of the H5N1 virus that has enabled the strain to jump from birds to mammals has raised serious concerns that it could come to affect humans as well.

Speaking to the media, the civic health body said, "The blood, nasal and anal swabs of three to four cats sent from Chhindwara to the ICAR-National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal in January have returned positive for H5NI. However, their owners have tested negative." They further added, "We have, however, not lowered our guard. We have been periodically sending samples of cats and birds from Chhindwara and elsewhere in MP, but none of them have tested positive for the avian virus. There is no need to worry or get panicky about its mutation to humans right now."

In one of the reports, the officials stated that the initial probe of the case has revealed that the cats were fed uncooked chicken sourced from shops whose chickens were found positive for avian influenza.

So, is chicken the source of the H5N1 virus spread to animals? Let's find out!

What Is Bird Flu Virus: The Highly Infectious H5N1 Strain

In a report, the civic health authorities revealed that the Burd flu-affected cats were fed poultry products (chicken and eggs) sourced from a local market in Chhindwara. Subsequent testing of samples collected from two meat shops in the market also returned positive results for H5N1, indicating that infected poultry products were the likely source of transmission to the cats. This worrisome development now brings the question of how safe it is to consume chicken during such an outbreak into highlight.

Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is caused by influenza A viruses that primarily infect birds but can occasionally infect mammals, including humans. The H5N1 strain is particularly concerning due to its high pathogenicity and mortality rates in both avian and mammalian species. Since its emergence in 1996, H5N1 has caused numerous outbreaks in poultry worldwide and has been responsible for sporadic human infections, often resulting in severe respiratory illness and a high case-fatality rate.

Globally, the H5N1 virus has been associated with significant outbreaks in various species. Notably, the virus has been detected in mammals such as dairy cattle and wild animals, raising concerns about its expanding host range and the potential for adaptation to humans. In the United States, since 2022, there have been approximately 70 human cases linked to direct contact with infected animals, with no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission.

Now, coming to the main question: Is it safe to consume chicken and eggs during a bird flu outbreak?

"Yes, you can still eat chicken and eggs, but proper cooking is essential to eliminate any risk of avian influenza (bird flu) infection," Dr Vidhwan Srivastava, Apollo Hospitals, told TheHealthSite.com.

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