Dir SKIMS says don’t panic, eating chicken doesn’t cause Swine Flu
Misinformation about the causes of Swine Flu has cost dearly to Valley poultry industry, with dealers and farmers complaining sharp drop in the demand.
However, the medical experts today clarified that Swine Flu virus is not transmitted from animals to human beings and that “consuming chicken has nothing to do with outbreak of this deadly virus”.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, Director SK Institute of Medical Science (SKIMS), Dr Showkat Zargar said Swine Flu is not caused by eating chicken products and people should not panic.
“There are rumor doing rounds in the Valley that eating chicken may cause Swine Flu but this is not true. Swine Flu is mostly transmitted from humans to humans through air. There are no such cases in which it has been found that it has been transmitted from animals to human beings,” Dr Zargar said.
To mention, two deaths have already been registered so far in SKIMS due to this virus, while over 70 patients have been tested positive for the Swine Flu.
Director, Animal Husbandry, Dr Shamas ud Din Makhdoomi said the poultry birds are safe for consumption and people should not pay any heed to rumors that eating chicken will cause swine flu.
“Swine Flu originated from pigs in Mexico in 2009 and fortunately in Kashmir we don’t have any traces of this specie. So there is no danger of the virus being transmitted by eating meat products. In fact it has been found that eating protein rich diet increases the immunity of the person to deal with this virus,” Dr Makhdoomi said.
He said that due to the rumors blaming chicken consumption for outbreak of deadly virus, the business of poor poultry farmers has plummeted.
“Now in order to clear the misconception Animal Husbandry department will come up with full fledged media campaign to clear doubts among the masses,” he said.
Meanwhile, the price of chicken has come down from Rs 90 per kg to Rs 45 which is causing huge losses to the poultry sector.
President, Kashmir Valley Poultry Farmers Association, Ghulam Muhammad Bhat told that the misinformation and false rumors being spread about chicken consumption has hit their business badly.
“We were yet to recuperate from the losses that September floods inflicted on us. And now these false rumors are causing us huge business losses.”
Poultry Consultant, Dr Altaf Gilani said Swine Flu has nothing to do with poultry or its products.
The medical experts have in fact recommended fish and chicken for toning up immunity.
