Srinagar: Amidst bird flu scare, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) today said that it is safe to eat properly cooked poultry meat.
With apprehensions among people of getting bird flu through consumption of poultry, President DAK Dr Nisar ul Hassan in a statement To Kashmir Today said that there is no risk to catch the disease from eating chicken or other poultry products.
There is no threat of bird flu transmission to humans by way of eating poultry.
Till date, there is no evidence that people have become infected after eating contaminated poultry meat that has been properly cooked.
However, one needs to make sure that the meat is not raw, uncooked or partially cooked.
Cooking of poultry at or above 70 degree centigrade kills the virus.
But slaughtering, defeathering and eviscerating of diseased birds pose a risk to humans.
Birds in Delhi, Gwalior and Kerala have tested positive for H5N8 that has been detected in India for the first time.
WHO considers the virus less likely to transmit to humans, but there are chances.
In view of that, centre has issued a health advisory to states asking them to minimize bird-human interface to prevent outbreak of bird flu.
It is suspected that migratory birds that are natural reservoirs of the virus might have brought the virus.
Kashmir being the favorite destination of migratory birds during winter, the virus can be introduced in the valley through them.
Poultry farmers need to be made aware about the sickness to ensure that no diseased bird enters the food chain.
The veterinarians must get activated for active surveillance; stockpile logistics like PPE and Tamiflu and prepare for the worst, just in case.