Health experts say the virus is primarily a concern for birds, but sporadic human infections have raised alarms globally.
Published Feb 16, 2025 | 8:00 AM ⚊ Updated Feb 16, 2025 | 8:00 AM
Culling of birds to combat Avian influenza, also called Bird Flu (Supplied)
Synopsis: Bird flu (H5N1) outbreaks in South India, including Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, have raised concerns, but experts assure that properly cooked chicken is safe to eat. While the virus primarily affects birds, human infections are rare and require direct contact with infected poultry. Vigilance is crucial to prevent mutations, but there’s no immediate public health crisis.
Are you hesitating before biting into that juicy chicken leg? The fear of bird flu (H5N1) has gripped South India again, leaving poultry farmers worried, health officials on high alert, and consumers wondering if it’s safe to eat their favorite biryani.
With recent outbreaks reported in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and a scare in Telangana, the question on everyone’s mind is—should we really be worried?
Health experts say the virus is primarily a concern for birds, but sporadic human infections have raised alarms globally.
“Bird flu is not a direct threat to humans unless there’s close contact with infected poultry, but vigilance is crucial,” says Dr John Jacob, renowned virologist, and former Prof at CMC Vellore.
So, should you keep that plate of chicken curry at a distance, or is the panic overblown? Here’s what you need to know.
In recent months, multiple outbreaks of H5N1 have surfaced across South India:
Andhra Pradesh: On 11 February 2025, East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh reported nearly 2 lakh chickens being killed in ten days at Kanuru Agraharam village and bird flu was confirmed through lab reports.
Telangana: In February 2025, Mass deaths of fowls over the past 45 days have caused fear of a potential outbreak of avian influenza.
Kerala: In April 2024, authorities in Alappuzha culled over 60,000 ducks after an outbreak was detected.
Andhra Pradesh: February 2024 saw H5N1 cases in Nellore, sparking fears of poultry contamination.
While no official cases in humans have been confirmed, unexplained poultry deaths in Khammam and Bhadradri Kothagudem have sent shockwaves through the industry. Officials are on high alert.
“The economic impact is already being felt. Sales of chicken have dropped by nearly 40 percent in some markets,” says poultry trader Karthik Reddy in Hyderabad. “People hear ‘bird flu’ and immediately assume it means danger, but that’s not the case.”
The short answer? No, as long as it’s cooked properly. The H5N1 virus is killed at temperatures above 70°C, meaning well-cooked poultry and eggs are completely safe to eat.
“We have no evidence that people can get bird flu from eating properly cooked chicken or eggs,” assures Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, “The virus is killed at temperatures above 70 degrees centigrade, which is well below the usual cooking temperature in India. There is no need to be afraid of getting bird flu from chicken biryani! ”
The actual risk of contracting bird flu is by handling dead chickens during a bird flu outbreak without proper precautions.
Despite this, panic has gripped markets, and misinformation is spreading fast. “People stopped buying chicken overnight when the news broke,” says shop owner Ibrahim Khan in Hyderabad. “We’re struggling with losses because of fear, not facts,” he added.
However, in Andhra Pradesh where the poultry deaths were seen, officials themselves have advised residents to reduce consumption of chicken for the time being.
The district medical and health officer has reportedly been instructed to conduct house-to-house surveys within a 10 km radius of Kanuru village to monitor potential cases of bird flu and deploy medical teams. Also, the chicken shops in the affected areas were closed for a few days.
Meanwhile, Telangana has listed precautionary measures in which the police have been instructed to stop bird feed or poultry entering the state from Andhra Pradesh. Field staff is making continuous field visits to monitor poultry health.
While the virus mainly affects birds, humans can get infected through direct exposure to sick birds or contaminated environments. Symptoms range from mild flu-like illness to severe pneumonia.
The bigger worry? Mutation. Scientists fear that if the virus mutates to spread easily between humans, it could trigger a pandemic. “Right now, human-to-human transmission isn’t happening, but viruses evolve,” warns Dr Jacob.
In May 2024, a child in Australia tested positive for H5N1 after returning from India, though no direct poultry exposure was found. “This case shows we can’t afford to be complacent,” says a WHO report.
Meanwhile, Dr Jayadevan adds that bird flu remains extremely rare in man, and human-to-human transmission is almost impossible due to the nature of the virus.
Scientists are closely monitoring bird flu outbreaks to make sure the virus doesn’t create new mutations that enable spread among human beings.
For now, there’s no immediate public health crisis, but experts stress the need for continued surveillance. “We need to act fast in controlling outbreaks in poultry farms, or this could become a much bigger problem,” warns virologist Dr Jacob John.
So, is it time to give up chicken? Not really. But it’s a wake-up call to take bird flu seriously—not just for now, but for the future.
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
