Poor conditions of fish farms in India may cause another outbreak.
The news of bird flu has been in the headlines for weeks which made people switch to fish as an alternative. Just when we thought the problem is solved, the conditions of fish markets were highlighted and this raised concern about another outbreak.
The public health and food safety standards are not being met and a high level of lead and cadmium has been found in fishes. This study was conducted across 10 states in India and 241 fish farms were found to be violating many health standards.
The high level of lead and cadmium is an issue because it binds with cells in the body and can cause fatal health issues.
Some of the prophylactic was also being used to contain the spread of any disease but using them can pose a threat to fishes as well as humans. The lead investigator on this case has also highlighted that the ponds in which fishes are cultivated also have all bloom which contributed to eutrophication and fishes die because of this.
Waste management is also an issue that leads to contamination and there are severe problems that can contribute to the quality of produce in India.
The COVID-19 outbreak has caused people to change the way things work but reforms are still expected in the poultry and fish industry.
It is best to take precautions personally and to know the source of your food. Make sure to cook the fish properly so that all the microorganisms are killed off at high temperatures.
