DOH tips to avoid bird flu transmission to humans

Seal of Department of Health (DOH) (Photo by Department of Health – Official Site of the DOH, Public Domain)

MANILA —The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday advised the public to refrain from eating half-cooked chicken and eggs to ensure non-transmission of the bird flu virus from animals to humans.

DOH Spokesperson Dr. Eric Tayag said that eating chicken and its egg cannot likely result to getting the bird flu virus because it can be killed upon thorough cooking.

He said the bird flu can most likely be acquired by those who had direct contact with infected chickens.

“Pwede kasing pumasok yung virus sa ilong, bibig at mata (The virus can enter the nose, mouth and eyes),” Tayag said.

So far, Tayag said there is no case yet of bird flu infecting humans in the country.

Symptoms can be in the form of fever, cough and sorethroat, he said.

“Wala pa tayong human cases. Ang bird flu po sa atin ay nasa mga manok lamang.

Hinihintay pa namin yung kumpletong resulta subalit sa report po ng Department of Agriculture, lumalabas na ang strain po ay highly pathogenic bird flu strain sapagkat maraming manok ang namatay. Kaya kumikilos nang mabilis ang DA. Inalerto na rin po ang mga beterinaryo po nila sa buong bansa na i-report kaagad kung may ganitong uri ng sitwasyon sa iba pang lugar,” the DOH Official said.

He said that based on records of bird flu cases in other countries, about 60 percent of those infected could die from strains which have mutated into new strains of the influenza virus. (PNA)