The first bird flu-related death has been reported in Andhra Pradesh. A two-year-old child from Narasaraopet, Palnadu district, succumbed to the H5N1 virus, as confirmed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology. Doctors stated that the child's low immunity and consumption of raw chicken meat led to the fatal infection. This is the first recorded bird flu death in the state, prompting health officials to issue warnings.

On March 4, the child was admitted to AIIMS Mangalagiri with symptoms like fever, respiratory issues, nasal discharge, diarrhea, and difficulty in eating. A throat and nasal swab sample was collected on March 7 for testing, raising suspicions of bird flu. The samples were sent to Delhi on March 15, and for further confirmation, they were dispatched to the National Institute of Virology, Pune, on March 24. After rigorous testing, it was confirmed that the child was infected with the H5N1 virus.

Following this incident, the Andhra Pradesh government took immediate precautionary measures. A health survey was conducted in the child's residential area, and no other individuals showed symptoms. The parents, devastated by the loss, revealed that the child had consumed a small piece of raw chicken while they were cooking. However, other family members who ate properly cooked meat did not experience any health issues.