The sale of chicken has been banned in parts of Delhi following confirmation of bird flu cases in the national capital on Wednesday even as the Centre had asked states not to close markets of poultry products out of panic, saying there is no risk to humans if animal or poultry products are boiled or cooked properly before consumption.
“All meat and poultry shops and meat processing units in areas under NDMC are prohibited (from) selling (or) storing poultry or processed, or packaged, chicken meat with immediate effect, till further orders,” the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) order said.
The NDMC said the order has been issued in “public interest” and should be diligently followed.
The ban came shortly after the health department asked people not to panic and follow a set of dos and don’ts, including not eating half-cooked chicken and half-boiled or half-fried eggs.
“H5N8 is highly pathogenic in birds but the pathogenicity in humans, as well as the likelihood of human infection with avian influenza (AH5N8) virus, is low,” the department’s notification said.
“Eat only completely cooked eggs and poultry products cooked at 70 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes. Do not consume half-cooked chicken or bird or half-boiled and half-fried eggs,” it said.
Last week Giriraj Singh, Union minister for animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries, tweeted similar assurances: “Cook meat and eggs properly. There is nothing to worry about.”
