The Centre is going to issue two advertisements advising people on the precautionary steps to be taken in the wake of the country's first avian flu cases.
The first advertisement, titled 'Facts you should know about bird flu', is aimed at poultry farmers, chicken sellers, handlers and transporters.
It advises to:
- use gloves and other suitable protection to avoid direct contact with chickens
- avoid touching bird feathers, mucus and droppings
- immediately wash hands with soap or detergent in case of contact with chickens
- safely dispose off dead or culled birds as this is a vital step to stop the infection from spreading.
It says that dead or sick birds should be immediately reported to the nearest animal husbandry department, and that it "is safe to consume well cooked chicken and eggs".
The second advertisement details what bird flu is about and the manner in which the government is dealing with the disease.
It says, for instance, that culling of infected birds and their safe disposal is important to control the infection of birds and humans, and that hospitals have been designated and equipped to deal with human infection.
"The advertisements should be out in two or three days," Additional Health Secretary Deepak Gupta said.
{{/usCountry}}"The advertisements should be out in two or three days," Additional Health Secretary Deepak Gupta said.
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