The Kochi Corporation has decided to take preventive measures to keep a check on bird flu reported in the neighbouring districts. A meeting called by Mayor Tony Chammany on Friday reviewed the situation.
Even though there has been no report of bird flu in the city and the suburbs, the meeting decided to keep an emergency plan ready to meet any circumstances and to create awareness on the disease and the manner it spreads. People needed to know what the preventive measures were, said Mr. Chammany. The corporation’s health wing will conduct an awareness meeting for duck and chicken sellers in the city on Monday at 11 a.m. at the Town Hall. At the meeting held in the Mayor’s chamber, Dr. Paul T. Kunnath, the district animal husbandry officer, informed the council members about the situation in the neighbouring districts.
The general advisory of the district health said that consumption of bird meat was safe as far as there were no reports of any disease in the district. However, people needed to be aware that birds for meat and eggs were being brought in from other parts of the State, said Dr. Haseena Mohammed, DMO. Only fresh chicken and duck may be bought, advised the IMA Kochi president Sunny Orathel. Besides, it was not advisable to refrigerate raw or cooked bird meat. The meat and eggs should be fully cooked too.
