Kathmandu, February 28:

Bird flu can be prevented by safely handling and eating properly-cooked poultry products,

director-general of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Dr Lee Jong-Wook said in a release today, adding that people who are in close contact with infected poultry, such as families with backyard flocks and poultry workers in wet markets, face the risk of catching bird flu.

“Humans won’t catch bird flu if they handle the poultry products safely and eat well-cooked poultry products.” Since December 2003, H5N1 virus is known to have infected 173 people of whom 93 have died. However, not a single case has been linked to consumption of properly-cooked poultry or poultry products, Dr Lee said.

“Heightened surveillance among birds, rapid detection of the virus, and swift implementation of control measures are important in supporting and maintaining consumer confidence in the safety of poultry products,” he said.