Coronavirus Found in Broiler Chicken, Warning: Fact Check

Update: 25th February 2020

We have come across another version of the false story doing rounds on WhatsApp and other online platforms. It in fact comes with various pictures allegedly showing Coronavirus was found in West Godavari region of Andhra Pradesh, India. Likewise, it warns consumers not to use Chicken.

As a matter of fact, the images come from a different context – not related to Coronavirus. In early February 2020, Food Safety officials raided some hotels in East Godavari. Likewise, they examined some hotels and bakeries in Amalapuram and found unhygienic stored meat for sale. The rotten chicken and meat stored in hotels shocked the officials. They disposed the meat and fined the hotel owners.

Around 30,000 Broiler Chicken Died in Khammam, Telangana

For your information, around 30,000 Broiler Chicken died in a poultry farm of Nayakulagudem village outskirts in Kothagudem Mandal of Khammam District in Telangana, India. The chickens were dying in thousands since mid-February 2020 and the villagers found the dead chickens thrown outside. Upon information, officials warned dangerous consequences of disposing the virus infected dead birds and advised poultry farm owners to immediately bury or burn them. Tehsildar Ravi Kumar said the chickens are dying due to some unknown virus infection. In between all this, Chicken sales in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have come down drastically.

Hoax or Fact:

Hoax.