A.P. reports first human death owing to H5N1 virus

Samples of a two-year-old girl from Palnadu district’s Narasaraopeta, who died of multi-organ failure at AIIMS-Mangalagiri on March 16, tested positive for H5N1 virus. The confirmation from National Institute of Virology (NIV-Pune) came on March 31.

This is the second human death in the country due to H5N1 virus, which causes bird flu, and the first in Andhra Pradesh, according to officials.

Palnadu District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) B. Ravi said the girl had fever, cough, running nose, diarrhoea, nasal discharge, seizures and breathlessness when she was admitted to AIIMS-Mangalagiri on March 4. “Her condition deteriorated despite best efforts… She was also diagnosed with leptospirosis, a disease spread by rats and developed multi-organ failure,” Dr. Ravi said.

He added that because the district did not have a history of any bird-flu outbreak or largescale bird mortality, the doctors did not immediately send her samples to test for presence of H5N1 virus. “It is surprising that she contracted the virus in a district where there was no known case,” Dr. Ravi said.

It may be noted that Andhra Pradesh reported avian influenza in more than four districts in January and February. But no case was reported from Palnadu district.

According to Palnadu district officials and a press release from the State Medical and Health department, the girl had the “habit of consuming raw chicken” and ate it two days before the onset of symptoms on February 28.

“It could have been that chicks from affected places were sold here. Since the girl ate raw meat, the virus spread to her,” said Director, Animal Husbandry Department, T. Damodar Naidu. He added that this is the second human death owing to bird flu in the country.

According to a press release from the State Medical and Health department, Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) from the Government General Hospital, Guntur, and another eight teams of health staff have been deployed for fever survey in and around the locality.

No abnormal case was identified during the survey, but surveillance will continue for the next two weeks, and testing will be organised for symptomatic persons, the release added.

Currently, the district administration is collecting blood and nasal samples of the two-year-old’s family members. “Her parents, grandparents and her four-year-old sister have tested negative for any disease. They ate cooked meat and, therefore, are safe. Their nasal samples have also been collected and the reports of the same are expected on April 3,” the DMHO said.

Both the officials maintained that there is no need for alarm and that people should always cook and boil meat and eggs properly before consuming.