The H5N1 influenza – commonly referred to as the bird flu – is now being ‘closely monitored’ scientists and the World Health Organisation (WHO), after its spread to mammals.
At least 58 million poultry birds have died due to the virus over the past few weeks, along with hundreds of wild sea lions in South America, a farm of minks in Europe.
Can bird flu spread through meat consumption? How should you handle raw chicken?
Can avian influenza spread from birds to human beings?
To put it straight, the flu primarily affects birds. However, those human beings who come in direct contact with sick birds may get infected. There is no need to panic as human to human spread is not too prominent with the current strain.
“People who work closely with poultry are at high risk of getting an infection. Otherwise, human to human transmission of the H5N1 virus is very rare.”
Dr Harshal R Salve, Associate Professor at Centre for Community Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), to IANS
Does this mean I should not eat eggs, chicken or duck?
Till date, no evidence indicates that anyone has become infected following the consumption of properly cooked poultry or poultry products, even when these foods were contaminated with the avian influenza virus, the Centre has said in its revised Action Plan for Prevention, Control & Containment of Avian Influenza.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has maintained that it is ‘safe’ to eat chicken and eggs as long as it is ‘properly prepared and cooked’.
“As a standard precaution, WHO recommends that poultry, poultry products, and wild game birds should always be prepared following good hygienic practices and that poultry meat should be properly cooked,” the body a
