Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has confirmed that bird flue can be transferred directly to humans, but still it is confined to those who are in touch with poultry. It is not yet evident that this virus can be transferred from a human being to another and it is not proved also that the virus is transferred by eating meat (of chicken) and egg, SFDA said in an explanatory statement. As regards safety measures, certain procedures should be taken, including making sure of getting meat (of chicken) and egg from the known sources, washing hands very carefully with water and soap after touching these materials and disinfecting sheets used for cutting meat (of chicken), the statement added. SFDA stressed the importance of cooking meat (of chicken) and egg on sufficient degree of heat that is shown in terms of changing the color of the meat (of chicken) and making sure that eggs are well-cooked and warned against using uncooked eggs to prepare Mayonnaise or meals that do not need high heat for its cooking as well as avoiding eating roasted and half- boiled egg. The roasted chickens in oven should be in temperature not less than 140 degrees, and to make sure that enough heat reaches their internal parts, the statement elaborated. SFDA stressed the significance of separating stored meat (of chicken) and egg from other stored foodstuffs to avert contamination of other foodstuffs.
