The dangers in bird flu and some do's and don'ts

N. Gopal Raj

BIRD FLU: The H5N1 virus primarily affects birds. "The virus does not easily cross from birds to infect humans," observes the World Health Organisation in its fact sheet on avian influenza. "Despite the infection of tens of millions of poultry over large geographical areas for more than two years, fewer than 200 human cases have been laboratory confirmed," it points out.

According to the WHO, for unknown reasons, most human cases have occurred in rural and semi-urban households that keep small flocks of poultry. There is a puzzling concentration of human cases among previously healthy children and young adults, the WHO said.

Surprisingly, very few of the human cases have occurred among high-risk groups such as commercial poultry workers, cullers, veterinarians and health staff caring for patients without adequate protective equipment. A statement issued earlier this month by the WHO stated that slaughtering, de-feathering or butchering infected, sick or dead birds put people at risk of getting infected by the virus.

The home slaughter and consumption of birds that appeared to be sick was highly risky.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, properly cooked poultry and eggs are safe to consume. Conventional cooking (temperatures at or above 70 degrees C in all parts of a food item) killed the H5N1 virus. Eggs should not be consumed raw or partially cooked. Eggs can carry the H5N1 virus both on the outside (shell) and the inside (whites and yolk). The H5N1 virus, if present in poultry meat, was not killed by refrigeration or freezing, the FAO said.

"People need to be informed about the importance of basic hygiene notably washing hands after touching poultry and disinfecting boots or shoes before entering or leaving a poultry farm," said Juan Lubroth of the FAO a few days ago.

According to the WHO, 169 humans were reported to be infected with the H5N1 virus in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Iraq, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam between 2003 and February 13 this year.

Some 91 of them died of the disease. On the other hand, more than 140 million domestic birds have died or are being culled as a result of H5N1 infections.
