What does WHO say about eating chicken, eggs amid bird flu scare?

Several states in India have sounded an alert to contain the spread of bird flu.  Thousands of crows, chickens, and ducks have died in past one week in several parts of the country due to bird flu.

It is a type of influenza virus that causes “highly infectious, severe respiratory disease in birds called avian influenza” Infected birds shed flu virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, and faeces.

Symptoms and signs of avian flu in humans

Cough, fever, sore throat, muscle aches, pneumonia and other complications.

What does WHO say? 

WHO says it is safe to eat chicken and eggs amid bird flu scare as long as they are “properly prepared and cooked”. Normal temperatures used for cooking (food reaches 70°C in all parts) can kill the virus. Cases in humans have mostly been linked to home slaughter and subsequent handling of diseased or dead birds before cooking, it states.

WHO also believes to have found no evidence of consumers being exposed to the virus via the handling or consumption of poultry or poultry products.