A veterinary surgeon from Uttar Pradesh has asked people to avoid consuming chicken in the wake of Bird flu (avian influenza). He has stated that Bird flu is as infectious as Covid-19 and the infection can spread to humans.

The vet surgeon said that Bird flu can affect humans and cause respiratory disorders aggravating into pneumonia. The symptoms start quicker than covid-19 and it is advisable that people avoid eating chicken as the virus is spreading among birds.

A lot of birds have died in Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala and Delhi because of this flu. A social activist said that the Bird flu is happening not just in India but has also spread in several European cities.

Bird sanctuaries are under strict vigilance across the country. Doctors and activists have raised concern over the issue as chicken is very commonly eaten by non-vegetarians. It has also come to notice that the prices of poultry have gone down by 10 percent in some of the states because of the fast spreading Bird flu. Tamil Nadu and Kerala have ordered culling of poultry due to the outbreak. Ban on poultry in Rajasthan will not be made until concrete evidence is found. As of now, the flu has been found in crows and not in poultry birds in Rajasthan.

The doctors have also advised that egg and meat must be properly cooked as heat kills the virus. They say that public must not panic, instead be cautious and cook the food well.