Amid bird flu (avian influenza) outbreak in several states, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Giriraj Singh on Wednesday offered some advise to to people fearing about the infection affecting the humans. Allaying all such apprehensions, Giriraj Singh there is no need to panic over reports of bird flu outbreak.
The minister advised people to cook meat and eggs fully. "Reports have come from some states about migratory birds dying from bird flu. Make sure that you cook meat and eggs well. There is no need to panic. We have alerted the states and all possible help is being provided," Singh tweeted in Hindi.
Thousands of birds have died in the last few days in states like Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala due to avian influenza. Kerala and Tamil Nadu have even ordered culling of lakhs of poultry due to the outbreak.
ALSO READ: Bird flu in Kerala: Panic grips state, govt orders culling of birds in two districts
Meanwhile, the government has set up a control room (Telephone no. 011-23382354) to strategies coordinate and facilitate state governments with regard to outbreak management, disease control and containment.
About Bird Flu or Avian Influenza
Avian Influenza (AI) viruses have been circulating worldwide for centuries with four known major outbreaks recorded in the last century. India notified the first outbreak of avian influenza in 2006. Infection in humans is not yet reported in India though the disease is zoonotic. There is no direct evidence that AI viruses can be transmitted to humans via the consumption of contaminated poultry products.
In India, the disease spreads mainly by migratory birds coming into India during winter months - from September – October to February – March.
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