- The Tamil Nadu Animal Husbandry department issued bird flu biosecurity guidelines after crow deaths.
- Proper cooking of eggs and chicken eliminates bird flu virus risk, making them safe to eat.
- Consumers should practice hygiene, cook thoroughly, and avoid raw eggs during outbreaks.
The Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries in Tamil Nadu issued an advisory detailing biosecurity and precautionary measures to prevent the spread of bird flu among poultry, wild birds and humans. This comes after there were reports of large-scale crow deaths over a possible outbreak of avian influenza. Officials also urged residents to remain alert and follow safety protocols.
Health officials in Tamil Nadu have advised people to seek immediate medical attention if they develop flu-like symptoms such as cough, cold, fever or breathing difficulty, particularly those who may have been exposed to birds.
Commonly known as bird flu, this is an infection from a type of influenza (flu) virus that usually spreads in birds and other animals. Cleveland Clinic says that humans can get bird flu from infected animals sometimes. Like the versions of flu that people usually get, bird flu can make you severely ill. It's extremely rare for it to spread from person to person.
With reports of bird flu outbreak, there have been concerns about the transmission of the virus through everyday foods like eggs and chicken. Health authorities across the world confirm that proper cooking removes the risk of transmission from eggs and chicken, which makes these safe for consumption.
How Does Bird Flu Virus Spread?
Bird flu occurs due to influenza A viruses, with strains like H5N1 being highly pathogenic in poultry. It spreads through direct contact with the infected birds' saliva, mucous, or faeces. Humans can get infected when they are exposed for a long time, such as farm workers handling sick birds.
The virus does not thrive in processed poultry products which are available in the market. Regulatory bodies like the The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) test flocks rigorously before slaughter or sale, wherein they cull the infected ones. There have been no reports on human infections that have occurred after consuming cooked eggs or chicken.
Risk Of Infection From Chicken
Chicken meat from healthy birds have risks of no bird flu threat. The virus resides mainly in birds' respiratory and gut tracts. Even if any trace amounts exist in infected poultry, cooking the chicken to 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius) internal temperature destroys it completely.
Safety Measures
- Always use a food thermometer to verify chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit throughout. Also make sure there's no pink juices or raw centers.
- Thaw frozen chicken in the fridge, not at room temperature, to avoid bacterial growth.
Risk Of Infection From Eggs
Eggs from infected hens can carry the virus on shells or, rarely, inside. However, commercial eggs undergo washing, inspection, and pasteurisation checks, which minimises risks of contamination. Cooking yolks firm (165 degrees Fahrenheit) kills any virus, with studies showing no live virus survives this heat.
Raw or undercooked eggs, like in runny yolks or homemade mayo, carry slight risks. Pasteurised liquid eggs offer extra safety.
Safety Measures
- Scramble, boil, or fry eggs until yolks and whites are solid. Avoid sunny-side-up during outbreaks.
- Refrigerate eggs promptly at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below and discard those with cracked shells.
- Cartoned egg products are heated to kill pathogens, and can be ideal for any recipe.
Prevention For Consumers
Adopt these habits to stay safe, especially during outbreaks.
- Hygiene: Wash hands 20 seconds after handling raw poultry/eggs. Make sure to clean surfaces with hot soapy water.
- Cook thoroughly: Don't consume rare chicken or soft-boiled eggs. Cooking them through kills bird flu virus and common bacteria.
- Sourcing: Choose products that are inspected and labeled and check local advisories.
- Avoid raw food: Skip runny eggs, raw dough, or unpasteurised items if you're immunocompromised.
Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
