Date:18/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/18/stories/2008011852240400.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Alert against bird flu

Special Correspondent

‘Avoid contact with birds’

Health Director sounds warning
Meat, egg to be consumed after proper cooking

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Health Director, on Thursday, asked the people of the State to be vigilant against bird flu in the context of reports of the disease in two districts in West Bengal.

In an official press release, he said bird flu was a disease normally afflicting birds, but it could spread to human beings also. It was transmitted through close contact with infected birds, by consuming the meat or egg of such birds without proper cooking and even by breathing the air having the odour of the excreta of infected birds.

It was a viral disease with symptoms of fever, muscle pain, cough, breathing difficulties, cold, runny nose, throat pain, eye infection and pneumonia. The symptoms started appearing within a week of coming into contact with birds or human beings having the disease.

Migratory birds could carry the disease to the State. It could also reach here through poultry or eggs transported from across the border. Even vehicles or cages in which infected birds had been transported could work as the source of the disease transmission, the Health Director said.

The infected birds go slow with laying eggs and the shell of the egg will be softer than normal. The birds become dull and shy of food and their beak and crest will develop a blue tinge. Their excreta will turn loose and eyes become inflamed and they will bleed from under the feathers.

The Health Director said that poultry birds should not be transported from an infected area. Infected birds should be isolated and their excreta should be buried after using disinfectants. Waste materials from poultry shops should be buried deep in the ground or burned.

People should avoid contact with birds as far as possible.

Bird meat and egg should be consumed only after proper cooking. And those handling birds should take adequate care to ensure personal safety.

He asked the people to alert the authorities immediately if birds were found showing the symptoms of the disease or if unusual levels of mortality were noticed among birds anywhere in the State.