Avian flu: No need to panic, says TN public health advisory

Chennai: Following confirmation of the spread of H5N1 avian influenza, the state's directorate of public health and preventive medicine issued a public health advisory on Thursday. "Transmission from birds to humans is extremely rare, except in cases where people touch carcasses with the live virus in them and then touch body parts such as mouth or eyes. There are not many such cases reported historically and there is no need to panic," said director of public health Dr A Somasundaram.The department, nevertheless, asked people experiencing influenza-like symptoms such as fever, cough, cold, sore throat, or body pain to seek medical attention immediately. Poultry workers, bird handlers, and those who came into contact with dead birds were asked to remain vigilant and report any symptoms to the nearest govt health facility. The department also urged the public to report unusual bird deaths, maintain strict personal hygiene,avoid undercooked meat and raw or partially cooked eggs, to stay away from areas where bird flu was reported, and refrain from spreading rumours.