Does eating chicken or eggs cause bird flu? Know WHO advice

Corona virus epidemics have not yet been relieved and cases of new strains of Covid-19 are on the rise. Meanwhile, bird flu is spreading rapidly in the country. This fever is known as avian influenza virus (H5N1), but in simple language it is called bird flu. The states of the country have been alerted and preparations are being made to stop it. So far, five states in the country - Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala - have been hit by bird flu, including Gujarat. Apart from this, other states are also expected to be affected by bird flu. It is natural for non-vegetarians to question whether they should eat chicken and eggs at such times. Let us know the answer to this question.

How H5N1 is spread

Experts believe that the avian influenza virus (H5N1) is present in wild birds, but they do not get sick from it. However, the virus infects other birds such as chickens, ducks, crows, pigeons and peacocks. So far, the virus has killed millions of birds in the last 10 days in all the states of the country. In Kerala, 12,000 ducks have died in the last few days, while Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have been on high alert. So, thousands of birds have been found dead in Himachal too, after which Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana have started investigating the samples in their respective states.

Be so careful to prevent infection

1. H5N1 is usually found in birds, so those who supply meat should be careful not to include any bird in the food chain that is infected.

2. Government directives prohibit the sale of poultry food products and prohibit eating them. If you are consuming any poultry product, prepare it at 70 સે C or higher.

3. It is advisable to use separate knives and utensils for raw and cooked meat.

Can eating eggs or chicken cause bird flu in humans?

Thus, humans are less at risk of bird flu than birds. Anyone can become infected with bird flu when they come in close contact with an infected bird or animal. In addition, the risk of infection is higher in people who do not eat cooked chicken or eggs properly.

The WHO gave this advice

Regarding the virus, the World Health Organization (WHO) advised in 2005 that if you eat well-cooked chicken, meat and eggs, there is no risk of H5N1 virus. According to the WHO, eggs or chickens should be boiled at a temperature of at least 70 degrees Celsius. Experts say that if the virus has entered the food chain through flocks of infected birds, people could catch the deadly bird flu after eating chicken and eggs. . So chicken, eggs should be eaten properly cooked, not raw. There will be no danger. According to AIIMS FAQs, bird flu did not infect humans, but in 197 the virus made many people sick.