Poultry has no role in Covid transmission to humans

Meanwhile, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the Indian Meat Science Association and the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying have issued a notification stating that poultry has no role in transmission of Covid-19 to humans. This information was shared by Dr Inderjeet Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana.

He revealed that scientific findings clearly indicated that the Covid virus was known to spread through human to human interactions. However, the person suffering from Covid-19 should be screened out and should not be allowed to handle either domestic animals or any food products whether of plant/animal origin or even cooked. They may cause secondary surface contamination of the products.

Dr Singh emphasised that the farm workers, milkmen, milk/meat handlers, butchers, dairy and meat industry personnel should be screened regularly and anyone showing symptoms of fever, cough, nausea, diarrhoea and difficulty in breathing should not be allowed to enter the farm and meat/dairy industry premises. The infected persons should immediately consult a doctor and quarantine themselves.

The Vice-Chancellor urged general public to stop forwarding fake videos without ascertaining the facts. Undue fear among people adversely affects the demand of eggs and poultry meat or other products, and consumers will be deprived of good affordable source of protein. Further, consumption of all food products, including milk, meat and poultry products should be consumed after proper cooking only, so that all infectious agents, including viruses, may be killed. The general principles of food hygiene and proper cooking must be followed as per suggestions of the WHO/OIE.

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