Bengaluru, Feb 16 (IANS): Ruling out contamination of chicken or eggs sold or consumed in the state, the Karnataka government on Saturday clarified there was no coronavirus in poultry products.
"Public is warned against believing rumours or false messages posted in the social media that chicken sold or consumed in the state is affected by corona virus. There is no scientific evidence for such baseless messages and no incidence of corona viral infection was found in poultry," state animal husbandry and fisheries department secretary A.B. Ibrahim said in a statement here.
Allaying fears of chicken being affected by the deadly virus, Ibrahim said poultry provided rich protein and healthy food and does not spread any disease.
"Corona virus spreads from contact with infected persons only, not through poultry products, which are rich in protein and are healthy," asserted the top official.
Explaining the reasons, Ibrahim said as chicken was cooked at 1,000 degree Celsius, no virus could survive at such a high temperature.
"Heating food up to 450 degree Celsius kills any virus. Eggs are also eaten boiled or cooked. Hence, well cooked chicken is free from any virus and safe to eat," reiterated Ibrahim.
The novel coronavirus (COVID 2019) has affected thousands of people in China and claimed over 1,500 lives so far in its Wuhan province.
The state government has set up a 24x7 helpline: 1800-425-0012 and landlines 080-2341-8075/6431 for the public to contact for clarification or more information.
Coronavirus: 218 under home isolation in Karnataka
The Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Services department is observing 218 people under home isolation across the state for coronavirus symptoms, a health official said here on Saturday.
"We are observing 218 people across the state, including in Bengaluru, for coronavirus symptoms," the department's communicable diseases wing joint director Prakash Kumar told IANS.
However, no positive coronavirus case has been reported from Karnataka yet.
Currently, nobody is admitted to the hospital for coronavirus symptoms, Kumar confirmed.
Five Karnataka districts bordering Kerala -- Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu, Udupi, Chamarajanagar and Mysuru -- continue to be under surveillance after three positive coronavirus cases were reported in Kerala.
Starting January 20 till Friday, 22,507 passengers have undergone thermal screening for coronavirus at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) here.
Of all the people screened at the airport, only three had a history of visiting coronavirus epicentre Wuhan in China, 157 people travelled to other parts of China, and 221 people travelled to other coronavirus affected countries.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the coronavirus epidemic affecting 28 countries as an 'International Public Health Emergency'.
A total of 151 samples have been declared negative from the state.
The 104 Arogya Sahayavani call centre, assigned to receive calls to provide guidance on coronavirus, has attracted 3,070 calls thus far.
"In case people with recent travel history to China and other affected countries develop any symptoms, they are requested to call 104 or inform health authorities and provide all necessary details in order to take precautionary measures and are requested to be home isolated," the department said.
Meanwhile, 19 passengers screened by the department have completed the mandatory 28-day observation period.
Globally, 1,526 people have already succumbed to coronavirus, 1,523 in China alone, and one each in the Philippines, Japan, France and Hong Kong. More than 66,200 confirmed cases have been reported thus far.