Bursa Uludag University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Food Hygiene and Technology Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Mustafa Tayar emphasized that there is no reason to panic about the bird flu case and said that everyone can consume chicken meat and eggs with peace of mind. Tayar also warned farm owners that the symptoms of bird flu in chickens will be purple discoloration of the legs, beards and crests.
Prof. Dr. Mustafa Tayar stated that avian influenza is a highly contagious disease and noted that avian influenza is a viral disease that affects both domestic and wild birds. Stating that avian influenza (avian influenza) occurs as a result of infection caused by Type A viruses, Tayar noted the following: Avian influenza viruses can be transmitted from wild birds to domestic poultry directly or indirectly (for example, through contaminated materials). The virus spreads from bird to bird through direct airborne transmission or indirectly through fecal contamination of material, feathers or feed. Avian influenza viruses do not normally infect humans, but sporadic human infections have occurred.”
Inspect your chickens
Tayar underlined that farm and poultry owners should pay attention to the symptoms of avian influenza, which can cause mild or severe illness or sudden death in birds, such as “swelling in the head and neck area, constant sleep, fatigue and low energy, sudden death without clinical symptoms, purple discoloration of the legs, purple discoloration of the beard and crests, cough, runny nose, watery or green diarrhea”.
Sick chicken does not lay eggs
Prof. Dr. Tayar stated that the sick chicken will definitely not lay eggs and said, “How can the chicken lay eggs when it is in trouble for its life. It is not possible to find an infected egg even if you want to. Everyone can consume chicken meat and eggs with peace of mind. The virus dies in 30 minutes at a temperature of 60 degrees. It is already impossible to find infected chicken meat and eggs in the market as soon as quarantine is imposed.”
Symptoms in humans
Mustafa Tayar emphasized that the World Health Organization (WHO) has drawn attention to the fact that avian influenza is not a food safety risk in terms of causing an infection in humans through chicken and its products (chicken meat and eggs), and reported that the only way humans can be infected with this disease is intensive direct contact with infected animals. Stating that avian influenza viruses are naturally seen among wild waterfowl, Tayar said, “The virus enters the human body through the eyes, nose or mouth in intense contact with infected animals. Severe respiratory illness can lead to problems such as shortness of breath, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress, vomiting, fever, cough, diarrhea, nausea, eye disorders, altered mental status.”
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