Is it safe to eat poultry from areas affected by avian influenza?
27 -Jun-2004 (HEALTH CANADA)

Is it safe to eat poultry from areas affected by avian influenza?

There is no public health risk associated with the consumption of cooked poultry meat or eggs as a result of these cases.

Health Canada advises that poultry products and eggs from areas experiencing an outbreak of avian flu do not pose a risk to human health for avian flu. The virus is known to be killed at temperatures above 72ºC, however, Health Canada recommends cooking whole poultry to 85ºC and other poultry products and eggs to 74ºC to ensure microbial food safety.

What is avian influenza?

Avian influenza is a contagious viral infection that can affect all species of birds (chickens, turkeys, guinea fowl, pet birds and wild birds). In intensive poultry rearing systems, young fattening turkeys and laying hens are usually the most affected species.

Wild birds may carry influenza viruses without becoming ill due to natural resistance. Wild waterfowl present a natural reservoir for these viruses and can be responsible for the primary introduction of infection into domestic poultry. Signs of the disease range from a mild infection with no symptoms to a severe epidemic that kills up to 100 percent of infected birds.

Is avian influenza transmissible to humans?

In rare instances people can contract avian flu. To date, the H5N1, H7N7 and H9N2 subtypes of the avian influenza virus have been known to cause illness in people, with H5N1 associated with the most serious illness in humans.

To date, two people have been infected with avian influenza. Both cases of infection followed close contact with infected poultry and contaminated materials and resulted in mild symptoms. Both people have fully recovered.

Are more cases of human illness possible?

The culling operation in British Columbia (Canada) is an extensive one so it is likely that we'll see more confirmed infections. Given this possibility, antiviral drugs are recommended for workers in contact with infected chickens or contaminated materials. Health Canada has provided occupational health and safety advice to the CFIA. Currently, workers must have received the current flu vaccine and antivirals and training on the use of personal protective equipment before working with the high risk flocks.

Has the H7 virus ever infected humans?

Most recently, the H7N2 virus was detected in poultry in Delaware and did not cause illness in humans. An outbreak of H7N7 in the Netherlands in 2003 resulted in one death and over 80 cases of mild disease in people. The vast majority of these cases exhibited conjunctivitis, and some of them displayed mild influenza-like illness.