Bihar govt cautions against consuming unknown fish entering state with Nepal floodwaters

Bihar government has advised people to avoid consuming unknown fish varieties entering the state through floodwaters from Nepal. Officials warned of contamination risks from bacteria, viruses and fungi, urging residents to seek medical help for symptoms and report sightings to authorities

Patna: The Bihar government has issued an advisory, asking people not to consume unknown fish varieties entering the state with floodwaters from Nepal, following reports of illness among some people.

The advisory was issued on Tuesday by the Department of Dairy, Animal and Fisheries Resources.

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Reports have been received about unfamiliar fish species being found in certain areas of Bihar along with floodwaters flowing in from Nepal. The consumption of such fish has allegedly caused illness among some people, the advisory stated.

Fish washed out of ponds, rivers, lakes and reservoirs during floods can spread over large areas and may come into prolonged contact with open drains, dead animals and decaying matter, increasing the risk of contamination by bacteria, viruses and fungi, it explained.

“Consuming these fish is hazardous to health,” officials said, advising people not to consume fish caught from floodwaters until environmental conditions return to normal and natural contaminants and pathogens subside.

People developing vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain, dizziness, breathing difficulty or other unusual symptoms after consuming fish have been advised to seek immediate medical attention at the nearest health centre or hospital, they added.

The department also asked residents to report sightings of such fish to their respective district fisheries officer or local administration.

It appealed to the public to strictly avoid consuming unknown fish as a “precautionary measure”.