We are still fighting the COVID-19 when news of Bird Flu threw a curve ball yet again. DR Mahendra Dadke lists things one should keep in mind
As we enter the New Year with the hope of things returning to normal in the days to come, our country might need to brace itself for yet another virus attack.
Currently, the country with more than one billion population is facing a double whammy with coronavirus and avian flu looming large. The Covid-19 pandemic has already brought our lives to a screeching halt in the past eleven months and to add to this, bird flu or avian flu has knocked on the doors yet again.
With the country going through a tough time facing two major diseases at the same time, people are bombarded with so much information that they can't seem contemplate the difference between the diseases.
To address the dilemma, let us figure out the differences between the two:
What Is Avian Flu?
Bird flu or Avian influenza is caused by the H5N1 influenza virus, which occasionally infects humans. These viruses are found worldwide among wild aquatic birds and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species.
According to the WHO, avian flu is not normally known to infect humans, however, sporadic human infections have occurred in the past. Since the first case of human infection in 1997, nearly 60 per cent of the people who have been infected with H5N1 have been killed.
What Is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is caused by a newly discovered coronavirus that affects the respiratory system and brings about many illnesses, including the common cold and flu. The disease is likely to take a severe turn in elderly and people with co-morbidities. Most people infected with COVID-19 virus experience mild to moderate respiratory illness, and may recover soon, says the WHO.
Both bird flu and COVID-19 being flu-like illnesses present with overlapping features and it can be difficult to differentiate between the two.
According to experts, the two illnesses present with symptoms including fever, cough, cold, body ache and breathlessness. In addition, patients with bird flu are likely to develop encephalopathy (damage to the brain) and confusion. Covid-19 patients on the other hand, often present with diarrhoea and loss of sense of smell and taste.
While avian influenza rarely spreads from one human to another, Covid-19, on the contrary is highly contagious and spreads rapidly between human. The Coronavirus has a low mortality rate — around 1-3 per cent globally which is the opposite of avian flu that has a high mortality rate.
Today, people are having a lot of questions or doubts about consuming meat during this bird flu epidemic and also what precautions needs to be taken. People should not panic and tackle this situation calmly. The most commonly consumed poultry products are chicken, eggs or ducks in India.
According to the UN food and agriculture organisation if the meat is cooked properly then it would be safe to consume it. The precautions one must take is throughout the cooking process of chicken or any meat one needs to make sure that the boiling temperature or cooking temperature is above 70 degree Celsius and during this cooking process no part of the meat should be left uncooked, half cooked or raw. Any poultry product cooked above 70 degree Celsius would be safe and non-infected to consume.
People who have habit of eating raw eggs or raw meat especially raw eggs should be strictly avoided. Also poultry workers should wear protective gear while working in the farm or touching any infected animal.
If you see any kind of symptoms or infection in your body immediately consult a doctor. Till date we have not found any case of a patient who have cooked the meat properly and has been infected with the bird flu therefore, no need to panic.
Coronavirus is still an active outbreak and with the onset of avian flu, it’s all the more important to take steps to reduce both your chance of contracting it and spread of disease if you do fall ill. Therefore, do not forget to practice social distancing, wear a mask where necessary, and wash your hands frequently with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water. Also, seek timely medical care if you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing.
The writer is Consultant Physician, Jupiter Hospital, Pune