Shocking! Eating Meat? These Precautions Are a Must!
Hyderabad, 4 April (www.deccanlive.com): After a young girl in Andhra Pradesh died due to Bird Flu, health officials in Telangana have become alert. Since Telangana is one of the top states in India where meat is consumed the most, experts are warning the public to be cautious. They advise people to take safety measures while using or consuming meat.
Even though Bird Flu (H5N1) cases in humans are rare, it is still considered a dangerous virus worldwide. The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) recently confirmed the first human death from Bird Flu in the USA, showing how unpredictable the virus can be. In the past decade, less than 1,000 people worldwide have died from this virus — only 28 of them were working in the poultry industry.
In Telangana, officials are especially focusing on Ranga Reddy district, where there are over 2 crore poultry birds and around 1,300 commercial poultry farms. In 2015, during a major outbreak, over one lakh birds had to be culled (killed to prevent spread). Telangana is a leading poultry-producing state in India. In the year 2023-24, the state produced 1,838 crore eggs, with an average availability of 483 eggs per person.
To control the virus spread, the government has started strict biosecurity measures. Experts say that since chicken consumption is very high in Telangana, people should be extra careful.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), properly cooked meat and eggs are safe to eat and do not spread the virus. However, it is better to avoid eating meat that comes from areas affected by bird flu. Currently, there are no cases of this virus in animals in India, but recently, a leopard in Nagpur tested positive. Because of this, the Animal Husbandry Department has begun taking precautionary steps.
