Monday, September 19, 2011

Metropolitan

Staff Correspondent

Experts yesterday suggested consuming full-boiled or full-fried eggs rather than the half-boiled or half-fried ones to avoid exposure to the avian flu virus (H5N1) that may be passed on to the eggs from the flu inflicted birds.

They also advised consumers to wash the eggs and their hands with soap to avoid possible transmission of the virus to human body.

The eggs of birds inflicted with H5N1 contain potential germ of avian influenza in its crust.

The speakers were addressing an orientation programme on Avian and Human Influenza at the conference room of Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) in the city.

IEDCR, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, UNICEF, Department of Livestock Services (DLS), Ministry of Agriculture, World Health Organisation and Food and Agriculture Organisation jointly organised the programme.

Slaughtering sick poultry without being sure of its disease and throwing out dead poultry or the wastage of slaughtered poultry in the open are common practices of people responsible for the spreading of bird flu, said UNICEF's specialist Shamshuddin Ahmed.

Since March 22, 2007 a total of 524 bird flu cases have been detected throughout the country while 166 cases were recorded this year, according to latest information of DLS.

In Bangladesh, April to September marks the peak season for the spreading of bird flu.

Laboratory confirmed three cases of H5N1 transmission in human body though there is yet no death by the virus recorded in Bangladesh.

However, 564 cases of H5N1 transmission were recorded worldwide and 330 died in the flu since 2003.

“Analysing the nature of the virus, it is found that the virus may take dangerous shape after mutation. That's why scientists are considering bird flu seriously”, said IEDCR Director Professor Mahmudur Rahman.

Director of Animal Health and Administration of DLS Dr Mussaddique Hossain said awareness is needed among the people to reduce the spreading of the disease.

He sought media cooperation to create awareness among people on this matter.

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