Amid reports of a bird flu outbreak in Tamil Nadu, health authorities have moved to reassure the public that properly cooked eggs and chicken remain safe to eat, even as precautionary measures are stepped up to prevent the spread of avian influenza.
The Tamil Nadu Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying, and Fisheries recently issued an advisory outlining biosecurity measures following reports of large-scale crow deaths suspected to be linked to bird flu.
Officials urged poultry workers and residents to remain alert and follow safety protocols.
Health authorities have also advised people to seek immediate medical care if they develop flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, cold, or breathing difficulty, particularly if they have been exposed to birds.
Bird flu, or avian influenza, is caused by influenza A viruses such as H5N1, which primarily infect birds. Human infections are rare and usually occur after prolonged or close contact with infected birds, including exposure to saliva, mucus, or faeces.
According to global health agencies, person-to-person transmission is extremely uncommon.
Concerns have been raised about whether the virus can spread through commonly consumed foods like eggs and chicken. Health authorities worldwide state that the risk of transmission through food is eliminated when poultry products are cooked properly.
The virus does not survive high temperatures, and cooking chicken to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit or eggs until both yolk and white are firm destroys the virus completely.
Regulatory agencies such as the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and the United States Department of Agriculture routinely test poultry flocks and remove infected birds from the supply chain.
There have been no confirmed cases of humans contracting bird flu from eating properly cooked eggs or chicken, officials said.