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Centre sets up panel to ascertain bird flu source
The panel would also suggest a strategy for reclaiming avian flu free status for India.
Centre on Tuesday constituted a high-level committee to look into the source of bird flu outbreak.
The panel would also suggest a strategy for reclaiming avian flu free status for India.
The decision to set up the committee was taken during a review meeting, chaired by the Cabinet Secretary BK Chaturvedi.
Animal Husbandry Commissioner SK Bandyopadhyay and Indian Council of Medical Research Director General NK Ganguly will be the key members of the committee, which would also include epidemiological experts.
"The committee will identify source of infection of the current bird flu. It will also prepare the scientific strategy for getting bird flu free status," Animal Husbandry Secretary PMA Hakeem said.
The Secretary said advisories have been issued to civil the Aviation Ministry and the Railway Board spelling out the WHO guidelines on food safety on chicken consumption.
"It is absolutely safe to consume properly cooked chicken and eggs. Virus is killed at 70 degree Celsius temperature," Health Ministry officials said.
The culling operation in Gujarat is over while it is likely to continue in Maharashtra till Wednesday.
About 70,000 birds have been culled in Gujarat while 1.5 lakh were destroyed in Maharashtra, Joint Secretary Animal Husbandry U Chawdhry said.
