H5N1 Bird Flu Outbreak: Dead Crows in Tamil Nadu Spark Fear, Risk to Children

• An unexpected surge in crow deaths in Tamil Nadu has been linked to the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus.
• Health and animal husbandry departments are on high alert, implementing sanitation drives and issuing public advisories.
• The public is warned against touching dead birds and advised to report suspicious findings to authorities.
• H5N1 can spread to humans, with hundreds of severe cases reported globally between 2003-2024; India has seen few confirmed human cases.
• Experts recommend thorough cooking of poultry products and emphasize vigilance to prevent virus spread, especially among vulnerable groups.