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| Sunday, 26 March 2006 |
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Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Myths and realities on Bird flu by Dr. Tilak S. Fernando A few isolated cases of Avian flu or Bird flu in a remote village in Nandubar district, Maharashtra, India, sent a red alert signal recently to Sri Lanka, consequence of which lead to the banning of all imported poultry products to the country. Despite WHO, Indian and Sri Lankan Health authorities' assurances that consumers need not worry or panic, the public's reaction has become somewhat precautionary. According to the World Health Organisation, Avian flu is a contagious disease of animals caused by viruses that normally infect only birds and, less commonly pigs, but have, on rare occasions, crossed the species barrier to infect humans. Has H5N1 virus surfaced suddenly? No, in fact from mid-December 2003 through early February 2004, poultry outbreaks caused by the H5N1 virus were reported in eight Asian nations. Subsequent reports in early August revealed the disease in Russia and adjacent parts of Kazakstan - in both countries deaths of wild birds from highly pathogenic H5N1 being reported. Almost simultaneously, Mongolia reported the detection of H5N1 in dead migratory birds. In October 2005, H5N1 was confirmed in poultry in Turkey and Romania. How and where did the outbreak suddenly crop up? The latest reports of the disease recently took a firm hold from the European Union emerging from Slovenia, Germany, Italy, France, Greece, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Sweden. It started to have a damaging effect in Asia when India tested 30 human beings for Avian flu after 50,000 birds died in Nandubar and culled thousands of birds and destroyed eggs. How does it infect people? According to a WHO report direct contact with infected poultry, or surfaces and objects contaminated by their faeces, is at present considered the main route of human infection. It is said that to-date, most human cases have occurred in rural areas where many households keep small poultry flocks, which often roam freely, sometimes entering homes or sharing outdoor areas where children play. Can infected birds faeces be a catalyst to spread the disease? Yes, the WHO report confirms the fact that when infected birds shed large quantities of virus in their faeces, opportunities for exposure to infected droppings or to environments contaminated by the virus are abundant. Moreover, because many households in Asia depend on poultry for income and food, it is mentioned that many families sell or slaughter and consume birds when signs of illness appear in a flock, and this practice has proved difficult to change. Exposure is considered most likely during slaughter. Is it safe to consume poultry and poultry products during this present climate, particularly in areas experiencing outbreaks? Yes, the WHO report does not seem to disagree with the idea and adds that de-feathering, butchering, and preparation of poultry for cooking and poultry products can be prepared and consumed as usual just by following good hygienic practices and proper cooking, with no fear of acquiring infection with the H5N1 virus, provided they are properly cooked and properly handled during food preparation. 'The H5N1 virus is sensitive to heat', WHO confirms,. It is also said
that 'Normal temperatures used for cooking is 70 C' in all parts of the food
and at that temperature it will kill the virus - Consumers need to be sure
that all parts of the poultry are fully cooked with no "pink" parts. Eggs,
too should be properly cooked with no "runny" yolks. |
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