New Delhi: Delhi`s civic body on Wednesday issued an order directing restaurants and eateries not to serve chicken and egg preparations in light of the bird flu outbreak. The avian flu has been confirmed in eight states and the national capital. Failure to comply with the order will result in action being taken against the restaurant or eatery in question, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) specified. The ban will apply to the sale and storage of poultry or processed chicken meats by shops and restaurants.

Issued by the NDMC`s veterinary services department, the order went on to say that restaurant and hotel owners will face action if egg-based dishes or poultry meat are served to customers. This order has been issued in public interest, it went on to add.

Since the confirmation of the bird flu outbreak in the national capital, both the Delhi government and the three civic bodies (NDMC, SDMC, EDMC) have put in place precautionary measures. These include bans on the import of processed meat among others. Asia`s largest chicken market in Delhi`s Ghazipur has also been closed by authorities as a precaution. "All meat and poultry shops and meat processing units in areas under the NDMC, are prohibited to sell, store poultry or processed or packaged chicken meat with immediate effect, till further orders," the order issued by NDMC on Wednesday said.

In addition, the order went on to say, "All meat and poultry shops and meat processing units in areas under the NDMC, are prohibited to sell, store poultry or processed or packaged chicken meat with immediate effect, till further orders." The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) of Delhi also issued an advisory on Wednesday asking people not to panic and adhere to a set of dos and don`ts. "H5N8 is highly pathogenic in birds but the pathogenicity in humans, as well as the likelihood of human infection with avian influenza (AH5N8) virus, is low," the advisory said.

Avoid contact from sick-looking chicken and direct contact with bird droppings were among some of the points mentioned in the advisory. The Delhi health department has also advised people to wash cages and bowls used for feeding birds with soap or detergent. One should immediately alert authorities at 23890318 if they come across a dead bird and refrain from touching it with naked hands. Eat only completely cooked eggs and poultry products cooked at 70 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes. Do not consume half-cooked chicken or bird or half-boiled and half-fried eggs," the DGHS advisory said. It also advised residents of the national capital not to keep raw poultry meet near cooked meat.

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