SHAOYANG-(MaraviPost)-At least 17,828 chickens have been culled by authorities in Shaoyang city of the southern province of Hunan following H5N1 bird flu also known avian influenza outbreak as the country continue struggling with Coronavirus crisis.
The new strain of virus is believe to be zoonotic in nature and has already killed about 4, 500 chickens in the areas.
As reported by Mirror news, the virus can be transmitted to humans if they have a close contact with infected live or dead birds, or H5N1-contaminated environments.
According to the World Health Organisation, human cases of H5N1 occur occasionally and it is difficult to transmit the infection from person to person.
However, there are reported cases of reduced mortality rate by 60 percent in humans when infected by the virus.
WHO has also said that there is no evidence that the disease can be spread to people through properly prepared and thoroughly cooked food.
People in the area have been advised to prepare and cook poultry and game birds on normal temperatures used for cooking (so that food reaches 70°C in all parts) to kill the virus as it is believed to be sensitive to heat.
Meanwhile, officials have sealed off and sterilised the affected area.
Shaoyang is about 350 miles from the central city of Wuhan, where the coronavirus outbreak began late last month.
