Delhi government: Don’t eat half-cooked eggs and meat

The Delhi government issued an health advisory after at least six more birds died in the capital on Monday due to H5N8 avian influenza. The influenza has resulted in the deaths of 64 birds since October 14.

Listing out do’s and don’ts for Delhiites, the advisory said: Avoid direct contact with bird secretions, clean all feeders, cage used for birds with detergent, dispose properly all the slaughtered waste, wash hands frequently at the time of dealing with poultry products, always use mask and gloves at the time of dealing with raw chicken or chicken products.

The advisory also urges people to not consume uncooked chicken or eggs, half-cooked chicken/birds or half boiled or half fried eggs, not to keep raw meat near the cooked meat and to prevent exposure to sick or sluggish looking chicken.

The Delhi government has issued a helpline number — 23890318 to solicit calls related to ponds that have not been disinfected, animal husbandry minister Gopal Rai said.

The advisory comes with the bird flu escalating in Delhi. Ten ducks were found dead at the south Dehli’s Deer Park on Sunday.

Mr Rai, however, said the anti-virus operation in the Deer Park was bearing results as only two bird deaths were reported there on Monday. Mr Rai also confirmed that three crows, that were found dead earlier in the Sunder Nagar area, had also succumbed to the H5N8 avian influenza.

The deaths of four other birds on Monday were reported from a lake behind Shakti Sthal near Rajghat in New Delhi, he said.

“We have started to closely monitor the lake along with other locations. But with bird deaths being reported from more locations, there is need to increase vigilance,” the animal husbandry minister said.

He on Monday held a meeting of the coordination committee in the Delhi Secretariat to consider further action on checking the spread of avian influenza. Mr Rai ordered all government departments to sprinkle lime powder around every water body. The minister also ordered them to spray anti-virus Sodium Hypochlorite around all water bodies where birds gather.