People in the areas affected by bird flu should refrain from consuming chicken, advised Director of State Public Health, Dr Nilakantha Mishra on Tuesday.
Amid the ongoing mass culling and scare of bird flu, Dr Mishra said the owners of the poultry firms and the staff working there have been asked not to sell chickens. They have been advised to bury their poultry after culling them. They have been compensated against the loss they are incurring thereof.
If any of the infected birds somehow go outside the farm, there is a possibility of spread of infection, he added.
“The chickens of the affected areas are being culled. Guidelines have been issued. People are being sensitized. People coming in contact with infected birds are being identified and administered with preventive medicine,” he said.
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“The chickens outside the surveillance areas can be consumed. Even if an infected chicken is boiled before consumption, it is said that the virus gets destroyed. Still, for safety, people are being asked not to consume infected birds. The infected chickens are being destroyed in such a way that they can’t infect others. People shouldn’t be afraid. The infection is found in different parts of India. But that doesn’t mean that all the chickens in nearby affected areas are infected. On the basis of scientific reasons, we are advising that the chickens of some particular areas shouldn’t be consumed,” said Dr Mishra.
- Reported by:
- KAPILENDRA PRADHAN
