Bihar cautions against eating unfamiliar fish carried in by Nepal floodwaters
Bihar's fisheries department has advised people not to eat unfamiliar fish arriving with Nepal floodwaters, citing contamination risks and reported illnesses.
The Bihar government has asked residents to refrain from consuming unfamiliar fish species that have been carried into the state by floodwaters originating from Nepal. The advisory from the Department of Dairy, Animal and Fisheries Resources follows reports that some people fell ill after eating such fish.
According to the department, floodwaters can wash fish out of ponds, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, dispersing them over large areas. These fish may come into prolonged contact with open drains, dead animals, and decaying organic matter, raising the risk of contamination by bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
Officials have described the consumption of these fish as hazardous to health. The advisory urges the public to avoid eating fish caught from floodwaters until environmental conditions normalise and natural contaminants and pathogens subside.
People who experience 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.
The department has also asked residents to report sightings of unfamiliar fish to their respective district fisheries officer or local administration. It has appealed to the public to strictly avoid consuming unknown fish as a precautionary measure.