Health Department issues advisory, asks residents not to panic

Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 9

Amid the bird flu scare, the Health Department today issued an advisory and asked residents not to panic.

The department said there were no eating restrictions and people could consume chicken, meat, eggs, and other poultry products after cooking them properly.

Health experts said consuming properly cooked poultry or eggs from infected birds won’t transmit the bird flu. Experts opined that meat was considered safe if it had been cooked at an internal temperature of 75ºC. Besides, the Health Department also advised residents to avoid roasted chicken as it is not fully cooked.

Dr Sumeet Singh, District Epidemiologist, said bird flu or avian influenza was a viral infection. “However, all avian flus are not contagious to humans. Clear information will be available in the coming days about the type of virus prevalent in different states,” he added.

Patiala Civil Surgeon Dr Satinder Singh said: “People should not panic as there is not even a single case of bird flu in the state so far. They should follow the advisory issue by the department.” Dr Satinder said they had already issued a letter to all poultry farms to report any deaths of chickens. “Besides, farm owners have been directed to report if any worker shows bird-flu symptoms,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Department of Animal Husbandry has formed rapid response teams and appointed nodal officers for surveillance. Besides, the department is in a constant touch with the owners of poultry farms.